Reception recognizes organizer of ‘Operation Mustang’

A reception was held at Norwood’s 110 Main Mercantile on the morning of July 8 at which Graeme Wright, an organizer of the Operation Mustang program which united Norwood and Jouarre, France as sister cities, was introduced to the Norwood community.
Wright was instrumental in establishing the linkage between the two towns.
“First, I want to say thanks for the welcome I’ve received here,” said Wright, “and I’m sure many of you are wondering, ‘How does a 10-mile hike in France lead to Norwood?’ ”
Wright went on to explain how, as he took part in a hike, he had read a plaque near Jouarre regarding an event that had happened there in World War II, and how that led to his involvement in bringing the two towns together.
“I called the village about the plaque, and was put in touch with Claude Pottin, who explained that a plane had crashed there in 1944, and that efforts were being made to contact the pilot’s family,” he said. “I was asked to assist in communicating, and I agreed to do so.”
Over the next seven months, Wright served as an intermediary between officials from Jouarre and Norwood.
“Interest grew from both sides,” he said, with the culmination being a delegation from Norwood traveling to Jouarre in July 2015.
“If Graeme had not taken the time to interact with local citizens of Jouarre and find out about the plaque he had seen, this would probably have never come about,” said Chester Lowder, a distant cousin of First Lt. James P. Lowder Jr. of Norwood, who had piloted the plane and died in the crash.
Six of those who traveled to Jouarre from Norwood in 2015 were present at the reception, including Lowder and wife Ann, Frank Lee (also a cousin) and wife Sarah, and Les Young (Wright’s primary contact in Norwood) and his sister, Sally.
On display at the reception was a painting by Norwood artist Robert Patterson, depicting Lowder’s P-51 Mustang fighter plane, which has been used in all graphic communications related to the event, and a video of the 2015 ceremony was viewed by those in attendance as well.
Pauline Beauge’ de la Roque, a native of France and current manager of the Norwood Michelin plant, was in attendance at the reception. She noted the importance of assuring that the sacrifices made not only by Lowder, but by so many allied troops in Europe, are not forgotten.
“We have made our own children aware of this,” she said. “It is our duty to never forget, and if we are sure to pass it down to our children, it will not be forgotten…children never forget.”

Toby Thorpe is a freelance writer for The Stanly News & Press.

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