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Travel Piece  by Ida Nasatir

Letter from Paris,  by Ida Nasatir, November 17, 1950

November 17, 1950—Ida Nasatir, "A Letter from Paris," Southwestern Jewish Press, page 7:  October 31, 1950--Dear Julia and Mac: Before we left San Diego, I promised Mrs. Addleson that if it were possible we would go to visit the last remains of her son, Herman, who died during the first days of the invasion of Europe. Both Abe and myself knew Herman as a student and a friend, and it was right and fitting that we should go.  St. Laurent, the U.S. military cemetery, is Herman's final home. It is 150 miles west of Paris, a four hour drive via car. It is also one of the historically significant sites of World War II.  I shall never forget that visit. WE left Paris with Larry and Collette Devlin, since Larry was a school chum of Herman's. (Col. and Mrs. L. Devlin, Larry's parents, live in Lemon Grove). We drove ten miles northwest of Bayeux until we saw the American flag flying over the St. Laurent cemetery.  We stood with bowed heads and in silence by Herman's grave. There was no other person in the huge, very quiet place.  There stood Larry Devlin, a devout Catholic, with head bared, there stood Abe, with more than a noticeable mist in his eyes. Strange are the thoughts that come to you as you stand by the grave of a boy who is separated from his family by continent and ocean. You notice countless other "stars of David" in the military cemetery, you even recall the names you read as you silently and reverently stop at their places, and lingeringly put your hand on their "star." Names like: Haymoff, Sheftel, Friedman and Garnitz...all of them followed by long serial numbers. There are so many Jewish boys who rest in this quiet place, that the thought came to me it would be good for those of our people who suffer from self-hatred and self-accusation to come to St. Laurent and see the many stars of Davids, over "known" and "unknown" graves. It might make them realize how much the Jew has given to every country in which he ever lived. Bright indeed are the "stars of David" above the English Channel in Normandy!  Fondly, Ida Nasatir.