WEBVTT

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(drumming)

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- [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
in order not to disturb this ceremony,

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please turn off your cellphones.

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(speaking French)

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Ladies and gentlemen, please 
stand as the official party enters.

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(speaking French)

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(drum and horn music)

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(drumming)

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- [Male Announcer] Ladies and 
gentlemen, please be seated.

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(speaking French)

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(inaudible), the Ambassador of the 
United States of America to France,

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ladies and gentlemen of the 
French parliament and senate,

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and then the mayor of Belleau,

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generals,

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(inaudible),

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ladies and gentlemen, members of
the regional and general council,

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wounded warriors, veterans,
and distinguished guests,

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ladies and gentlemen.

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I am David Atkinson, superintendent
of the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery.

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(speaking French)

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On behalf of the Chairman of the 
American Battle Monument Commission,

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General Merrill McPeak,
U.S. Air Force retired,

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I welcome you to this Memorial Day ceremony.

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(speaking French)

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The U.S. Congress established
the ABMC in 1923

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to commemorate the service of
American armed forces when they

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have served since our entry
into the First World War.

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We do this primarily through
24 overseas American military cemeteries

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and 25 memorials located in 15 countries.

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(speaking French)

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Thank you for being here to
honor the brave individuals

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who gave their lives for our freedom.

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(speaking French)

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- Ladies and gentlemen, please 
stand for the national anthems.

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(speaking French)

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(French national anthem "La Marseillaise")

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("Star-Spangled Banner")

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Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated.

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(speaking French)

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Mr. (inaudible), the Ambassador of
the United States of America to France,

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ladies and gentlemen of the
French parliament and senate,

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Madame the mayor of Belleau,

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generals,

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Mr. (inaudible)

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ladies and gentlemen, members
of the regional and general council,

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wounded warriors, veterans,

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and distinguished guests,

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ladies and gentlemen.

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On behalf of the American Overseas
Memorial Day Association,

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we welcome you.

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(speaking French)

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We would like to recognize the presence

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of family members of the 
men we honor today.

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(speaking French)

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The (inaudible) family,
who's relative, Paul (inaudible),

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(inaudible) is on the wall of the missing.

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(speaking French)

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In 1920, the American Overseas
Memorial Day Association,

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a private and tax-exempt association, was founded.

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Its first and foremost goal

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is to commemorate and honor the 
American service members' sacrifices.

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(speaking French)

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As we are all gathered here today,

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let us ponder for a moment

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the (inaudible) of one of our World War I soldiers.

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(speaking French)

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As we are resting here,

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in the seas of honor,

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as who have died

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as, who yesterday, both of our parents, our friends,

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we are telling you

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it is your turn to hold the banner

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and to keep, in the depth of your souls,

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the taste for living in liberty.

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Accept the challenge.

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Otherwise, the poppies will wilt

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in the fields of (inaudible).

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Lest we forget.

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(speaking French)

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Ladies and gentlemen, Mrs. Monique 
Benier, mayor of Belleau,

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will present the welcoming message.

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(speaking French)

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(speaking French)