Originally Posted By MPierce >> Mpierce, they were mainly plywood and there were many of them. Also a butcher who died of heartattack was put in a Uniform with fake plans of an attack from Italy and threw his body off the coast of Spain, knowing the Axis would get word. These and many such stories were very true, I have met some of the Brits that were a part of the deal, and was lectured by one of them (International History was one of my favourite classes in college). Check out the book the Man Who Never Was. << I saw a program on the History Channel about that. A very interesting program. I think the Brits have kept the History of WW II much more alive than the Americans. Probably because they were involved for so much longer, and had the enemy at their doorsteps. Throw in constantly being bombed, and it's something that will be remembered forever over there. It took us nearly 60 years to build a memorial to our heros of World War II in Washington DC.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Yep, the US has largely been untouched by war on home ground with the exception of the revolutionary war and the Civil War. Sadly, WWI and WWII had a profound impact on Europe and the UK was hit hard. Rationing of food only stopped in the 50's, and this is often why British food is considered bland (though this is not as true as it once was). Also, many lost their family, and whole towns were destroyed and rebuilt. However, the UK also does not dwell too much on it. There is nothing really like the Arizona memorial at PEarl Harbour, and yet there were so many more casualties over here. WWII was very important, it was the cause of the Cold War and enabled America to be a Superpower. Without it, we may not have had the Space Programme (thanks to Germany's V2 programme), computers (Colossus, the first electronic computer is 22 miles from my house) and many other crucial things. Also the UN and much of modern Europe owe their structures to it.
Originally Posted By MPierce Yes it certainly changed the course of History, but such a terrible price to pay in human lives.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 Thanks for the history lesson guys. Seriously, I can't wait to show my husband (who is a history buff) what I learned on the Disney boards.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 He gave me a really weird look. Said something about Calais. I decided to keep my mouth shut before he knew I didn't have a clue. I thought Calais was in Maine.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>I saw a program on the History Channel about that. A very interesting program. I think the Brits have kept the History of WW II much more alive than the Americans. Probably because they were involved for so much longer, and had the enemy at their doorsteps. Throw in constantly being bombed, and it's something that will be remembered forever over there. It took us nearly 60 years to build a memorial to our heros of World War II in Washington DC.<<< ^^^ Totally unrelated note, but it ALWAYS takes us long to memorialize things. As of late I have become increasingly aware of the lack of ADAMS memorials and monuments around. And that's depressing. ;-)
Originally Posted By leobloom >> As of late I have become increasingly aware of the lack of ADAMS memorials and monuments around. And that's depressing. ;-) << One of the Library of Congress buildings is named for Adams (Madison and Jefferson are the other two--Jefferson's the old one with the gorgeous reading room).
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>I thought Calais was in Maine<<< Calais is on the coast of France, and is where the channel tunnel is located creating the link to England (or our link to Disneyland Paris - latest trip report available on the Paris boards - plug, plug). We tend to take our kids to important WWI and WWII sites enroute to Disney, and in a few years time, we will take them to Omaha beach (well probably all the landing heads). There are still canons, barbed wire and piller boxes. Another interesting site is La Cople - where they fired the V2 rockets from. The Eagles Nest on the Austrian Border, Anne Frank's House and Auswitz are some of the most interesting sites I have visited too.
Originally Posted By MousDad >> As of late I have become increasingly aware of the lack of ADAMS memorials and monuments around. And that's depressing. ;-) << >>One of the Library of Congress buildings is named for Adams (Madison and Jefferson are the other two--Jefferson's the old one with the gorgeous reading room).<< The Madison building of the Library of Congress is the official National Memorial to James Madison. But the Adams building is not the official National Memorial to John Adams. Go figure. An official Adams memorial on the mall is one of 3 supposedly planned (Eisenhower and MLK), but the MLK is the only one that appears to be moving forward.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>One of the Library of Congress buildings is named for Adams (Madison and Jefferson are the other two--Jefferson's the old one with the gorgeous reading room).<<<< Right, but he doesn't have a structure dedicated to him as Washington and Jefferson do. Him, and Franklin, I feel should be recognized in some sort of monument, as they were the two men that helped instigate and draft the Declaration. And of course for their later efforts, being in the peace negotiations, Adam's efforts for our economy in the Hague, and of course, his Presidency. It is incredible to see his home, though, in Quincy (used to be Braintree), which is a Nat'l Historic Park.
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer >>>The Eagles Nest on the Austrian Border, Anne Frank's House and Auswitz are some of the most interesting sites I have visited too.<<< You are very lucky to have seen these places... First stop when I get to Europe. DLP will be second, of course. ;-)
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Yep, have managed to chalk up 43 countries so far, and a number of significant sites from Stonehenge to Chitza Nitza, to Runnymede where Magna Carta was signed, to the Alhambra where Columbus was commissioned to find a route to the Indies. Virgina City, Dodge, Gettysburg, and the Somme, the Pyramids of cheops and the Wailing Wall, as well as many other places. Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Cartpathians, Alps, Sahara and the Maldives. And many more. Travel and history are some of the greatest things that can teach us, and ironically it was Disneyland that inspired me to learn about our past and imagine the future. shame they have now forgotten their ethos.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo FWIW, within a 1 - 2 hour drive are some very significant sites with global importance - the site of the WWI armistace, Provins the 13th century market city that inspired Marco Polo to travel East, Reims - where the kings of France where coronated, Barbizon where impressionism gained importance, Versailles the palace of the Sun King and where the WWII treaty was signed, Paris itself, and of course Braille was invented 3 miles from DLP. Sad thing is, even europeans who go to the resort time and time again rarely travel to these sites.
Originally Posted By MPierce >> He gave me a really weird look. Said something about Calais. I decided to keep my mouth shut before he knew I didn't have a clue. I thought Calais was in Maine. << They've got one in France too. That's where the deception campaign took place Bobbe. It's the narrowest part of the English channel, and over looks the Straight of Dover.
Originally Posted By bobbelee9 <<Calais is on the coast of France, and is where the channel tunnel is located creating the link to England (or our link to Disneyland Paris - latest trip report available on the Paris boards - plug, plug).>> I know it's in France, but the twit in me wanted to mention Maine. My dh can be very annoying about his history facts. The town/city I live in was named after a place in England. Amazes me, they couldn't escape England fast enough, but when they got here, so many places were named after where they just left, New England, New Ipswich, New London,(which btw in on the Thames River in Connecticut.) Or just the same name without a New before it.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<We tend to take our kids to important WWI and WWII sites enroute to Disney, and in a few years time, we will take them to Omaha beach (well probably all the landing heads). There are still canons, barbed wire and piller boxes.>> It is a place that must be seen and felt ... so beautiful, yet so many reminders of what happened and how many are buried. Truly one of the most moving places I have ever been. ~And at least they died for something real in essence they saved the free world ... not say like all those poor kids in Iraq who died for nothing except perhaps Blackwater and Haliburton and GE etc! Oops, did I offend anyone with that? Must be the sleep deprivation~
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 <<Yep, have managed to chalk up 43 countries so far, and a number of significant sites from Stonehenge to Chitza Nitza, to Runnymede where Magna Carta was signed, to the Alhambra where Columbus was commissioned to find a route to the Indies. Virgina City, Dodge, Gettysburg, and the Somme, the Pyramids of cheops and the Wailing Wall, as well as many other places. Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Cartpathians, Alps, Sahara and the Maldives. And many more.>> wow ... you get around ... ~Feeling locker room envy!~
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo You haven't done too badly yourself Spirit. Good to see you back, must drop you a line.
