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Norm Phillip's speech given (in French) on August 28,
2004 at the Schoeneck, France commemoration
 Speech
(given in French) on August 28, 2004 at Schoeneck, France by Flight
Officer Norman Phillips - Navigator on B-24 "Ginger"
that crashed on their 60th Anniversary on August 26, 1944.
"Today we remember the dark days when our country was under
the German boot. Our hopes and our spirits were not crushed. The
spirit of freedom continued to live in our souls. After five years
of cruel occupation and bloody war, in which so many of our young
men fought bravely and died, freedom was again established in
our country and the unworthily conqueror was defeated and thrown
out.
Each life is precious, and no life is more precious than the next.
Among the thousands who died in this struggle for freedom we cite
the names of six comrades from our crew, engraved on the stone,
in order that they never be forgotten. Ralph Vincent Schaffer
of the state of Ohio. His ultimate fate remains unknown to this
very day. He left a young widow to morn for him. Jack Maxwell
of the state of Tennessee, ground crew mechanic. He wanted to
make a larger contribution toward fighting the enemy. Ted Zominek
of the state of West Virginia. Young and unmarried, he was too
young to die. \Willard Fetterhoff of the state if Michigan, like
the previous one - too young to die. Jack Staton of the state
of West Virginia. He always had a big smile on his handsome face.
Chuck Wyatt of the state of Oklahoma. He never saw this baby boy
born two months before his demise. These men were our son's .
We miss them. Sixty years have rolled by. We still miss them.
We shall always remember the sacrifice that they made for our
freedom. We shall always retain the vision of their happy faces.
We shall always remain faithful to their memory. The war through
which they fought and died, is not yet ended. In the current era
we are in the midst of a similar battle against a foe who seeks
to conquer for reasons of hatred, greed and envy. We shall continue
to fight this enemy - terrorism - in order to preserve those freedoms
which are dear to us and which we wish to share with others. This
will require much sacrifice. But in the final count we shall conquer.
Permit me to borrow a phrase from our National Anthem. "Then
conquer we must when our cause it is just. And this be our motto
in God is our trust." "Translation" - French equivalent
of lines from Francis Scott Key.-- Between France and America
there will always be a strong bond of understanding and friendship.
Never will a difference of political opinion upset the respect
that our two peoples have for each other.
We are allies and friends for all time, with common bond, the
freedom of man.
Thus do I raise my voice loud and strong.
Long live America.
Long live France.
Long live freedom".
Thank you.
Norman Phillips
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