CLARKSVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library will host a free screening of Christian Taylor’s “The Girl Who Wore Freedom’ on Sunday, September 22, as part of the Welcome Home Veterans Celebration.
The average American probably knows more about World War II than any other war in our history. We have heard about D-Day from movies and stories told by our soldiers who landed on the beaches and parachuted into pastures and towns to fight for France. They fought and died to liberate men, women, and children from enemy forces.
But an important piece of D-Day history has been missing – stories of the Normandy citizens who were occupied and liberated on that day. For the people of Normandy, D-Day is more than a date in a history book or archival footage on a movie screen. D-Day is liberation. D-Day is freedom. For the last 75 years, their love and appreciation for their liberators continues to be passed on from generation to generation.
A new feature length documentary, The Girl Who Wore Freedom, captures stunning first-hand accounts of the French citizens living under Nazi occupation. It captures their suffering during the Allied Invasion and subsequent Battle of Normandy. It documents their joy at liberation and their undying gratitude to America. Their first-hand accounts will echo through history:
“Americans, they are our liberators. We have to thank them forever.”
“In all the cemeteries, there were so many deaths to save France and all the countries occupied by Germany. Where would we be, the French, if you, the Americans hadn’t come?”
“That some boys, in some cases kids, went ashore to our beaches. When you realize that you are free, that you can use your language and continue to maintain your traditions, then you realize what they have done and the sacrifices that many of them have made.”
“The Girl Who Wore Freedom” is an unconventional love story between the people of Normandy, France and the American GI’s who freed them from German occupation. It is told by those that lived it. Memories of hardship, death, heroism, and love.
The Public Library will offer a screening of the film as part of this year’s Welcome Home Veterans Celebrations. The Screening will begin at 2:00. Admission is free on a first come-first-served bases.
This film is a must for those who support U.S. veterans, are passionate about history and enjoy documentary film.
Chritsian Taylor, creator, producer and director will be on hand with members of the cast and crew to answer questions after the film.
Normandy Project LLC and Taylor Productions LTD continue to seek stories about WWII to share. If you have a story you would like to share, visit them at their website.