&nbs
“We are going to do a bit of landscape work in a small way” ‘August 27 1919, Paris – Yesterday morning I received my Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army after two years and two months of service, long enough for me – Am now a civilian – Today I signed a contract with the American Army to take care of the work at the cemetery at Suresnes, just thirty minutes from Paris. The A.E.F. has a cemetery there with over a thousand graves which has to be in good shape. The work will be done by French labor and does not amount to very much after things are once put in to shape. My salary is 150 dollars a month which will just about let my wife and I live but then it was a case of take that or starve to death while I was awaiting developments…’ Several weeks later, Allen Peck writes about his work for the cemetery:‘Spent the day in inspecting and obtaining prices on evergreen trees and various species of plants for forming hedges – Walked through miles of nurseries – We are going to do a bit of landscape work in a small way: about forty trees of about six or seven varieties, and a hedge across the back of the grounds to form a sort of back curtain or screen to set off the white crosses and the various shades of evergreens. I don’t know how it will finally look, but I trust, all right.’American aviator who just married a French lady and decided to settle in France for a while – Allen Peck’s WW1 Letters Home 1917-1919 – Photos: 1918 & 1919, scenes at the American Cemetery of Suresnes – Gallica, Library of Congress, APS Library -- source link
#neverforgotten#neverforget#american history#tuesdaythoughts