Volume 3, Issue 2

Board Members, Sister City of Lynchburg- Plus
(alphabetical by last name)

SYLVIANE BELLAMY
imsylviane@adelphia.net
PIP976@aol.com (work)
1106 Oak Spring Road
Lynchburg, VA 24503
(434) 845-1153 (work)

BERT* BERTOLOTTI
g.bertolotti-intertec@
worldnet.att.net
2320 Interlink Road
Lynchburg, VA 24503
(434) 384-2769 (*Giacomo)

FRANK BRITT
frank@brittagency.com
PAST PRESIDENT
PO Box 1110
Forest, VA 24551
(434) 384-0001

MEG COSBY
mcosby@rmwc.edu

MARTHA FAESI
zap1686@aol.com
400 E. Randolph Place
Lynchburg, VA 24503
(434) 847-3063 (home)
(434) 847-8688 ext. 17(work)

JOE FREEMAN
josephfreeman@msn.com
2605 Hurdle Hill Road
Lynchburg, VA 24503
(434) 384-7427

BILL GOODMAN
wmgoodman@earthlink.net
1608 Dogwood Lane
Lynchburg, VA 24503
(434) 384-1937

CRAIG HOVE
Craig.Hove@
framatome-anp.com
SECRETARY
1415 Langhorne Road
Lynchburg, VA 24503
(434) 384-7045 (home)
(434) 832-3485 (work)
(434) 832-2629 (work fax)

HUGH JONES
Hjmjiii@aol.com
1563 Lexington Drive
Lynchburg, VA 24503
(434) 384-7633

TRAVIS MCDONALD
Travis@POPLARFOREST.org
1411 Wakefield Rd.
Lynchburg, VA 24503
(434) 384-3834

MANFRED MIBUS
mmibus@aol.com
VICE-PRESIDENT
216 Honey Tree Lane
Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 316-9090

THERESE NAMENEK
therese.namenek@
centrahealth.com
PRESIDENT
376 Woodland Avenue
Lynchburg, VA 24503
(434) 947-5210 (work)

SCOTT ROBERT
robert@lynchburg.edu
TREASURER
2804 Sedgwick Drive
Lynchburg, VA 24503
(434) 386-9413

ELLEN ROWLSON-HALL
erowlhall@hotmail.com
2408 Terrell Place
Lynchburg, VA 24503
(434) 846-4024

MARI WHITE
mws1019@aol.com

Special Visitors from Rueil-Malmaison

MID APRIL WE WERE DELIGHTED TO WELCOME OUR SPECIAL GUESTS FROM RUEIL-MALMAISON, OUR FRENCH SISTER CITY.

Claudie Rouzeval and her husband Jo paid us a ten-day visit at a time when early Spring was at its best, timing their stay before the dreary wet spell of our later Spring.

How timely and lucky for them. As many of you know, Claudie, the Rueil city council woman appointed to the sister city program, had visited Lynchburg many times before and had made many friends over the years. But for Jo, it was his first visit and his appreciation for our hospitality as well as his delight in discovering the beauty and historical treasures of our area made this event more special.

Their program was full and at the risk of forgetting some of their memorable visits I'll mention a few: the D-day Memorial, Poplar Forest, the Old Cemetery, Natural Bridge, Lexington and Charlottesville. They were special guests to our Spring social at the Ellington when Diane and Robert Garber and Joe Seiffert shared their memories of their recent trip to Rueil, at the Jefferson Choral Concert, at a VSA rehearsal of the Evening of Elegance, at the Britts' "birthday picnic", at the Dirom's formal dinner party, at the Providence Ministries International church service. They also participated in several of the Alliance Française special events, met French Consul Nicole Yancey on several occasions, visited discount stores for bargains and found plenty to take home to their children and grandchildren. They enjoyed many lunches at friends' homes and late dinners at the Main Street Eatery, their favorite restaurant.

They appreciated the generosity of their hosts for extended stay in the homes of Anne and Gordon Echols, Robert and Diane Garber (whom they hosted in March in Rueil during the Garbers' visit) and Maryvonne Laparliere.

I was privileged to spend much of my time with Claudie and Jo, whether as a translator or as a host. On our last luncheon together at my home we savored a 'Cinzano'( Sweet Vermouth) on the deck, a very French 'dejeuner' with artichokes, jambon and cornichons, and planned several exciting events.
I enjoyed very much the Rouzevals' visit and I believe that their hosts and friends did as well. It highlights the importance of people to people, city to city friendships and our relationship with our siter city is growing ever closer.

A Tribute to Board Member Bert Bertolotti

Toasted at a Monte Carlo Going Away Luncheon, May 10

Bert has headed the Bone Marrow Donor Program through our Rotary Club for the past few years. We have had great fun together, mostly making presentations. With Bert's accent and my hearing problems, we knew, like the Blues Brothers, that we were truly on a mission from GOD. I have learned so much from my friend: Things like always keeping your eye on the ball no matter what the problems may be. The importance of being tireless in your efforts-sometimes a little like a pit bull. And, always seeing the glass half full, not half empty. Did I say half full? Bert always sees the glass 3/4 full. And last, the importance of a smile and unabashed joyfulness. In this way, Bert has established a legacy that I am sure some day, if not already, will save lives through our program. I am sad to see Bert and Giovanna go although I know they must. We will be poorer when he is gone, but think about how much richer we are because he was here. See!!! Bert is like the mythical good plague. He quietly invades your community; does great and important deeds; touches many lives; and slips out of town leaving a much better place behind. GOD SPEED TO Bert and Giovanna.

Salute!!

Trip to Normandy

Three Americans celebrated Memorial Day in March this year. Joe Seiffert, my husband Robert Garber, and I spent an emotional day standing on American soil in Normandy, France. Our friends from Rueil-Malmaison arranged a special trip to Northern France to visit the American National Military Cemetery. Approximately twenty of our hosts made this unforgettable journey with us.

I was rather amazed at the cold and gloomy weather in Normandy, having enjoyed glorious sunny days in Paris and Rueil. The countryside was lovely and rustic - perhaps not changed much from the way it looked during the dark days of World War II.

Nothing prepared me for the sight of that sacred ground. Stark white crosses mark the graves of 9,814 American service men and women killed on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The crosses are perfectly aligned in all directions. Our guide explained that the smooth side of the crosses and stars of David give a uniform impression at first glance, but the names of each person are engraved in the other side - facing towards the distant shores of the United States.

We made a special effort to find the grave of local Bedford D-day hero, Bedford Hoback. The office maintains a directory to help visitors find the burial sites of loved ones. We also located the name of Raymond Hoback, engraved on the memorial wall commemorating those whose bodies were never recovered.

Joe and Robert made the long trek to the sands of Omaha Beach. They were impressed at the long distance from the shore to the cliffs that Allied soldiers had to traverse under enemy fire.

"Those soldiers had to run across 300 yards of unprotected ground," Robert remembered. "Their courage was unbelievable. We have freedom because they died."

While Robert and Joe were on the beach, I walked the grounds with André Pelvet. He told me of his two arrests by the Gestapo while they were searching for his father, a member of the French Resistance. His father was forced to work for the Germans building concrete-encased bunkers. As the wooden framework was constructed, he made sure that the nails were partially hammered into each piece. When the heavy concrete was applied, the weakened frame collapsed. André's accounts of his narrow escapes were riveting. I was interested to share his memories of those years during the German occupation of France.

Our friends presented us with a lovely basket of red, white, and blue flowers, bearing a silk banner embossed with the words, "Rueil / Lynchburg". In a simple ceremony, Joe, Robert and I carried this basket and placed it at the feet of an enormous bronze statue titled, "The Spirit Of American Youth Rising From The Waves". I was overcome with the emotion of the moment and the thoughtfulness of our hosts, many who had personally known the tragedy of war on their own soil.

With these words Claudie Rouzeval captured the moment - and our hearts - proposing a toast at lunch later that day, "We are proud to stand with you at Normandy."

SISTER CITIES, PEACE

From a letter to the editor,
News & Advance, April 10, 2003

I had the distinct pleasure of visiting Lynchburg in February of this year and learning more about Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus. You are doing wonderful work, and the entire community should be very proud of your progress and your foresight in forming sister city relationships.

As international issues take center stage on the evening news, now is a good time to remember why the sister city movement began in the United States. In 1956, then-President Eisenhower proposed the people-to-people movement to bring the individual members of communities in the United States face-to-face with citizens of other countries around the world. He wanted to get beyond the politics of nations. He wanted people to get to know, understand and respect people from other cultures as individuals.
In October 2002, the SCI Board of Directors reaffirmed that vision with the new SCI mission statement: Sister Cities International seeks to "promote peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation - one individual, one community at a time." Sister City programs around the world should embrace all their partners, no matter where they are. We are not about politics, we are about peace, we are about people. How are we to overcome our differences if there is not an avenue for open, honest and respectful discussion?

Now is not the time to dissolve relationships, now is the time to open our homes and hearts to the world, to clear up misconceptions and reach for a future built on mutual respect, understanding and cooperation, and sister city programs are one of the best ways to do this.

With all my heart, I wish you continued success and the rewards I know your sister city program will bring, not just to those directly involved, but to the entire community of Lynchburg. Keep up the great work!

Bulletin Board

SCI Annual -- Conference 2003  -- July 23 to 26 -- St. Louis

You are invited by the Alliance Française... to the Bastille Day picnic!

SUNDAY, JULY 13 o 2:00-8:00 P.M. (DINNER STARTS AT 5:00) GLENBROOKE CLUB HOUSE IN BOONSBORO

Directions 501 North (Boonsboro Road). Turn left into Coffee Road. Proceed to Hawkins Mills Road and turn left. Pass RMWC stables on the right to a stop sign. Go straight ahead until you reach the Glenbrooke entrance on the left.
Bring salad/side dish/bread if your last name starts A- P,
and dessert with names R-Z.

Also, bring swimsuit if you want to swim.

The event is RAIN or SHINE...

Kitzbuhel the Trip is On!

We Have A Lot On Our Plate

The Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus has many plans and goals. Here are just a few:

We publish a newsletter every three months and will include publicity for the Lynchburg Alliance Francaise and the Lynchburg Dante Alighieri Society. Please submit information for the next issue to Craig Hove ( chove@framatech.com )