 |
| Historian Ron Drez tidied up the grass around the grave of L.J. Barnes, 26. The headstone, chosen by his grieving parents, reads "In Thy Presence is Fullness of Joy, At Thy Right Hand are Pleasures For Evermore." |
One of their leaders, Lt. Dick Winters, who months later would distinguish himself on D-Day and throughout the invasion, needed to get away from the organized chaos of the unit to collect his thoughts. A peace-loving man, he found a bench on a hill looking down over a graveyard that surrounded an ancient church.
He noticed a couple tending the grave of Corporal L.J. Barnes, 26, who died June 12, 1942. They were grieving the loss of their son, a member of the Royal Air Force. They soon joined Winters at the top of the hill and and there began a relationship they would cherish for decades. The Barnes' "adopted" this American who had come to pick up the cause which had taken their son. Winters and another young officer soon moved into their Aldebourne apartment over the Post Office and became part of the Barnes family.
Winters related this story (and much more) years later to our trip historian, who was a key researcher for the late Stephen Ambrose, author of "Band of Brothers."
The poignant vignette, though detailed in writing, never made the HBO movie, but many think it should have.
Today we sat on the bench, visited the grave, entered the church where townspeople still gather in freedom, and went to look up at the window of the little apartment where Winters, who faced untold dangers and adversity, drew so much comfort and strength.
He noticed a couple tending the grave of Corporal L.J. Barnes, 26, who died June 12, 1942. They were grieving the loss of their son, a member of the Royal Air Force. They soon joined Winters at the top of the hill and and there began a relationship they would cherish for decades. The Barnes' "adopted" this American who had come to pick up the cause which had taken their son. Winters and another young officer soon moved into their Aldebourne apartment over the Post Office and became part of the Barnes family.
 |
| This village path takes you up to the churchyard. |
The poignant vignette, though detailed in writing, never made the HBO movie, but many think it should have.
Today we sat on the bench, visited the grave, entered the church where townspeople still gather in freedom, and went to look up at the window of the little apartment where Winters, who faced untold dangers and adversity, drew so much comfort and strength.
