Memorandum from Colonel W. A. Collier to Major General Harry Vaughan

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CIVIC OPERA BUILDING 20 NORTH WACKER DRIVE CHICAGO 6, ILLINOIS THE CHIEF OF STAFF 23 July 1946 Ma jor General Harry H. Vaughn Military Aide to the President TRUMA. The White House Washington, D. C. 5. ARCHIVES "MATIONAL SERVICE" RECORDS AND THET Ess My dear General Vaughn: You may recall that during a luncheon at the home of Ex-Ambassador Joseph E. Davies last March, where two dis- tinguished Frenchmen, Monsieur Gabriel Hocquard, Mayor of Metz, and Major Guy P. de la Vasselais of the French Army, were present, we conversed upon the subject of a memorial route to be constructed across France called the "Voie de la Liberte. The French Committee already formed and representing this momorial has announced very enthusiastic support of the project. Their aim and purpose is to mark the "Voie de la Liberte" at each kilometer with a highway marker stone of special artistic design to be executed by famous French artists. At more important locations they will erect pyramids or other monuments. All of these will commemorate the battles which were fought by the American Army for the Liberation of France in 1944, and form a tangible expression of French-American friendship. This symbolic road of liberty will extend from Ste. Mere l'Eglise at the Normandy beachhead to the eastern borders of France at Metz, passing through Carentan, St. Lo, Villedieu- les-Poeles, Avranches, St. James, Pontorson, St. Malo, Rennes, Chateaubriant Angers, La Fleche, Le Mans, la Ferte-Bernard, Nogent-le-Rotrou, Courville, Chartres, Ablis, Etampes, Fon- tainebleau, Donnemarie, Provins, Montmirail, Epernay, Reims, Ste. Menehould, Verdun and Thionville. This is the route which was taken by the XX Corps while spearheading the THIRD ARMY in its advance across France.