Now We Are Orphans

JR Miller

Description

It is estimated that over ten million European children became war orphans during World War II. Thousands eventually came to the United States. Most were placed in foster homes and adopted.
Now We Are Orphans tells the story of how the savagery of war impacted a family living in Lourdes, France during World War II. A young French boy and his sister become orphans at the hands of the Nazis after the deaths of their parents. The story follows the boy Marcel, on his meandering path to adoption, which takes him from France across the Pyrenees Mountains to orphanages in England and the United States. The story captures the essence of family love, lost and rediscovered.

Sujets

• Historical
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: Archway Publishing
• Date de parution: 05 décembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781665732550
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Now We Are Orphans
A Story of Horror, Hope And Family Love
JR Miller


Copyright © 2022 JR Miller.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
 
 
 
 
Archway Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.archwaypublishing.com
844-669-3957
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.
 
ISBN: 978-1-6657-3254-3 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6657-3255-0 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022919868
 
 
 
 
Archway Publishing rev. date: 11/26/2022
Contents
Introduction
Prologue
 
Bon Temps Boulangerie
Understanding Diop
Diop’s Sickness
The War Moves Closer
The Horror of War
The Orphanage of St. Stephen
Diop Joins the Resistance
General De Gaulle Sends Assistance
The War Comes Closer
Josette’s Jewish Identity
The Bakery Closes
The Resistance Army
Nazi Terror at the Bakery
Now We Are Orphans
Marcel and Nicole Find a New Home
Josette Arrives at Auschwitz
Life at the Orphanage
Josette’s Final Days
Nicole’s Adoption
The Arrest of Mother Anne Marie
Marcel Walks the Pyrénées Mountains
Danger on the Mountain Trail
The Capture of Mark and Tim
Frostbite and Gangrene
Marcel’s Amputation
Marcel’s Voyage to England
Another New Beginning
Welcome to America
Marcel Finds a New Home
Marcel Longs to See His Sister
A Visit With Nicole
 
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
Historical Fiction
About the Author
References/Acknowledgements and Inspirational Attribution

ALSO BY JR MILLER
Towers on the Beach ( www.towersonthebeach.com )
Introduction
On June 14, 1940, German troops rolled into the streets of Paris from the northwest and marched triumphantly down the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées in the heart of the French capital. A Frenchman, moved to tears by the image of the Nazi flag with its swastika, could raise his voice only loudly enough for a fellow countryman to hear: “My beautiful country, as we have known it, is no more.”
The horrors of war are lived at a very personal level. Some live close to its terror, others at a distance, but all feel its impact on their lives. The brutality of war touches individuals. It rearranges a person’s values and character. Orphans of war bear immeasurable emotional and psychological trauma that may last a lifetime.
It is estimated that over ten million European children became war orphans during World War II. Thousands eventually came to the United States. Many were placed in foster care and adopted.
Now We Are Orphans tells the story of how the savagery of war impacted a family living in Lourdes, France. A young French boy and his sister become orphans at the hands of the Nazis after losing their parents. The story follows the boy, Marcel, on his meandering path to adoption, which takes him from France across the Pyrénées Mountains, to orphanages in England and the United States.
This story captures the essence of family love, lost and rediscovered.
Prologue
November, 1992
On this cool, late autumn morning, the sky is pale blue and a flock of Canada geese can be seen flying to their winter destination. The mourners crowd into St. Ignatius Church in Hickory, Maryland. Family and friends greet each other with hugs and tears. They slowly move into the pews of this historic church that was the foundation of Marc Whiteford’s faith since his adoption and arrival in Maryland. Several stop to read the obituary from the local newspaper which someone placed on the wall just inside the main entrance.
THE BEL AIR, MARYLAND TIMES NEWS JOURNAL: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1992
OBITUARIES
Marcel Whiteford
Mr. Whiteford, devoted husband, father, and educator, died of complications from a heart attack on November 15 at his home on Eagle Wings Farm.
The Harford County, Maryland resident was 61.
Mr. Marcel Whiteford (Garmon) was a graduate of the Maryland State Teachers College. He received his Master’s degree in Education from Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland. He taught French and English at North Harford High School and coached the boys’ varsity soccer team for over twenty years. He retired in 1991.
He is survived by his wife, Lee; their son, Joseph; his wife, Julie; Marcel’s sister, Nicole; and her husband, Lucas. He is predeceased by his adoptive parents, George and Mary Whiteford. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Ignatius Church in Hickory, Maryland at 11:00 a.m. on November 21. He will be buried in the church cemetery.
With no more room in the pews, the mourners line the aisles along the exterior walls of the church and stand shoulder to shoulder in the narthex. Marc’s family squeezes into the first pew in front of the altar. The sun makes its way through the stained glass windows as Father Lafferty follows the casket and the six pall bearers. The casket is placed so that Lee can reach out and touch it, keeping Marc close.
The family holds hands. Father Lafferty blesses the casket and whispers to Lee, “Joseph tells me he will deliver Marc’s eulogy.”
Lee gives a tearful nod.
One
January, 1930
Bon Temps Boulangerie
L ourdes lies near the foothills of the Pyrénées Mountains in southwestern France. In 1858, the town rose to worldwide distinction due to the Marian apparitions seen by the peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous, who was later canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1862, and veneration of Mary as Our Lady of Lourdes was authorized. The underground spring in the grotto, revealed to Bernadette, was declared to have miraculous qualities, and pilgrims believe that the water has the power to heal.
Lourdes slowly gained prominence as one of the world’s well-known sites for religious pilgrimages. Prior to the German invasion of France in 1940, thousands visited the town and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. Yearly, the number of pilgrims increased, and hotels, shops, churches, and homes were built at a rapid pace.
Just two miles from Lourdes is the village of Bartrès, France. It is a small, peaceful place with cobblestone streets and tall, narrow buildings with ivy-coated walls. The village is also well known for its connection to Bernadette Soubirous and is a popular tourist destination.
Claude Garmon was born in this quiet town in 1911. At age fourteen, he met and soon fell in love with Josette Engel. They lived near each other in Bartrès and attended the same primary school in Lourdes. They married in 1930. Their son, Marcel, was born in 1931, and their daughter Nicole arrived in 1934.
A strong Catholic upbringing was provided to Claude by his parents. He loved to hear the stories of the apparitions of the Blessed Mother and visited the grotto frequently with his family. Josette’s mother was raised in the Lutheran religion, and her father was Jewish. After she began dating Claude and spending time with his family, she began attending Mass with them.
They were married by a Catholic priest in the garden behind the Lady of Lourdes Church. Soon after the wedding, Josette embraced the Catholic faith. As the years passed, the Garmon family would attend Mass on Sunday and participate in various other religious events. Claude and Josette participated in church activities. Claude assisted with social events and Josette sang in the choir. Marcel became an altar boy and Nicole joined her mother as a member of the children’s choir. They were a close, loving family.
Soon after completing his secondary education and marrying Josette, Claude began working in a boulangerie (bakery) in Lourdes. The Bon Temps Boulangerie (Good Time Bakery), located on the busy Rue de la Grotto (Grotto Street), supplied bakery items for many of the hotels. The bakery was old but inviting. The peeling, whitewashed walls displayed many Claude Monet reproductions. There were copper and cast iron pots and pans hanging everywhere. At the back of the shop, two large doors led to a beautiful garden with flowers and herbs. Rosemary, lavender, and thyme, tied with ribbon in small bunches, hung under the front windows. When in bloom, wildflowers sat in a large glass vase in front of the cash register.
Daily, Claude and the other employees baked and delivered an assortment of fresh breads and pastries from the oven. They also were busy with walk-in customers who sat at the few tables and booths where they could enjoy a coffee and éclair while discussing world events and the beauty of the shrine. During the warmer months, other small tables were placed on the cobblestone walk in front of the entrance to accommodate the many tourists.
Claude began working there as the clean-up and delivery person, but quickly gained the skills necessary to become the apprentice pain (bread) baker. He soon perfected the “cold-dough” baguette, along with artisan and classic breads, croissants and flatbreads. He also created his personal recipe for spice honey bread. The Roman crusaders brought their aromatic