Normandy Rose

During 1944, the Allies prepared the invasion. I was engaged to a Belgian chief officer serving onboard an ammunition ship called the "S.S. Julia" bound to land ammunition and U.S. troops on Omaha Beach. After the invasion, my fiancé turned up in battle dress on our doorstep in London with a cardboard box containing a French red rose. He said "This is the first free French rose and the red rose of England, symbol of liberty". We were all moved as he found it in a farm amongst all the dead bodies. The rose was later framed and years later on each 6th of June, my grandchildren offer me a red rose in souvenir of freedom.

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