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Tuesday, June 26, 2012
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HH DALAI LAMA'S POEM - THE PARADOX OF OUR AGE
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Monday, June 11, 2012
1953 - 1958
Rochefort American High School ...was one of the many schools opened in France during the 50's to educate military dependents. It was located in the small coastal town of Rochefort Sur Mer, France which had an important Naval port. Today, the site where our school was, has become the MARINE MUSEUM.
Rochefort has an active Alumni Association and a data base of over 250 former students. The Alumni Association frequently celebrate large and mini reunions and have traveled to Rochefort Sur Mer in France, to visit the city where the school was established.
We continue to search for the other approximately 300 alumni who attended Rochefort during its short existence from 1953-58.
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| Rochefort American High School - Gaby Bryant in photo. |
Rochefort Sur Mer, France
In December 1665, Rochefort was chosen by Jean-Baptiste Colbert as a place of "refuge, defense and supply" for the French navy. Its military harbour was fortified by Louis XIV's commissary of fortifications Vauban.
Between 1666-1669 the king had the "Corderie Royale" (then the longest building in Europe) constructed to make cordage for French ships of war. The making of cordage ceased in 1867, and in 1926 the arsenal of Rochefort was closed. The building was burned by occupation forces in 1944 and left abandoned for twenty years. Today it has been restored for municipal and tourist purposes.
Another infrastructure of early Rochefort from 1766 was its bagne, a high-security penal colony involving hard labour. Bagnes were then common fixtures in military harbours and naval bases, such as Toulon or Brest, because they provided free labour.
During the Jacobin period of the French Revolution (1790–95) over 800 Roman Catholic priests and other religious who refused to take the anti-Papal oath of the "Civil Constitution of the Clergy" were put aboard a fleet of prison ships in Rochefort harbor where most died due to inhumane conditions. This was in effect one of the first "concentration camps" in the world.
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| Marine Museum in Rochefort Sur Mer, France.- Site of the Rochefort American High School 1953-57 |
Between 1666-1669 the king had the "Corderie Royale" (then the longest building in Europe) constructed to make cordage for French ships of war. The making of cordage ceased in 1867, and in 1926 the arsenal of Rochefort was closed. The building was burned by occupation forces in 1944 and left abandoned for twenty years. Today it has been restored for municipal and tourist purposes.
Another infrastructure of early Rochefort from 1766 was its bagne, a high-security penal colony involving hard labour. Bagnes were then common fixtures in military harbours and naval bases, such as Toulon or Brest, because they provided free labour.
During the Jacobin period of the French Revolution (1790–95) over 800 Roman Catholic priests and other religious who refused to take the anti-Papal oath of the "Civil Constitution of the Clergy" were put aboard a fleet of prison ships in Rochefort harbor where most died due to inhumane conditions. This was in effect one of the first "concentration camps" in the world.
Off Rochefort, from the island of Île-d'Aix where he had spent several days hoping to flee to America, Napoleon Bonaparte surrendered to Captain F. L. Maitland aboard HMS Bellerophon, on 17 July 1815, ending the "Hundred Days".
Rochefort is a notable example of 17th-century "ville nouvelle" or new town, which means its design and building resulted from a political decree. The reason for building Rochefort was to a large extent that royal power could hardly depend on rebellious Protestant La Rochelle, which Cardinal Richelieu had to besiege a few decades earlier. Well into the 20th century, Rochefort remained primarily a garrison town. The tourist industry, which had long existed due to the town's spa, gained emphasis in the 1990s.
Rochefort is a notable example of 17th-century "ville nouvelle" or new town, which means its design and building resulted from a political decree. The reason for building Rochefort was to a large extent that royal power could hardly depend on rebellious Protestant La Rochelle, which Cardinal Richelieu had to besiege a few decades earlier. Well into the 20th century, Rochefort remained primarily a garrison town. The tourist industry, which had long existed due to the town's spa, gained emphasis in the 1990s.
THE MILITARY DEPENDENTS SCHOOL SYSTEM
Dept of Defense American High Schools Abroad for Military Dependents
For young people, being able to experience life and culture in different countries gives them a perspective on the world and insight into other cultures. Many of these "Brats" had world events experiences, especially where they lived as a youngster. As the mission of the military changes, bases and posts throughout the world open and close and schools and communities become memories.
Joe Condrill has an organization called Overseas Brats, which hosts regional gatherings throughout the U.S., and publishes a newsletter with news about alumni groups. Rochefort American High School was one of the many schools opened in France during the 50's for military dependents.
The following site has yearbooks from almost all Overseas Military Schools from those years: www.berlinbrats.org/yearbooks.htm
Rochefort American High School has an active Alumni Association and a data base of over 250 former students. The Alumni Association frequently celebrate large and mini reunions and have traveled to Rochefort Sur Mer in France, to visit the city where the school was established.
We continue to search for the other approximately 300 alumni who attended Rochefort during its short existence from 1953-58.
If you are one of us, please let us know:
MORE:
http://www.rochefortfranceahs.org/
CONTACTS
Miriam Ramirez '58
mjean1@gmail.com
CURRENT OFFICERS
Lance Burris '57, president
lanceburris@sbcglobal.net or lburris@ilea.in.gov
Many US Military Dependents had the opportunity to live in foreign countries with their families and are often referred to as "overseas brats". Many fellow Brats have blogged about their experiences overseas and in the U.S., in various web sites, such as Military Brats Online as well as Military Brat Life.
For young people, being able to experience life and culture in different countries gives them a perspective on the world and insight into other cultures. Many of these "Brats" had world events experiences, especially where they lived as a youngster. As the mission of the military changes, bases and posts throughout the world open and close and schools and communities become memories.
Joe Condrill has an organization called Overseas Brats, which hosts regional gatherings throughout the U.S., and publishes a newsletter with news about alumni groups. Rochefort American High School was one of the many schools opened in France during the 50's for military dependents.
The following site has yearbooks from almost all Overseas Military Schools from those years: www.berlinbrats.org/yearbooks.htm
Rochefort American High School has an active Alumni Association and a data base of over 250 former students. The Alumni Association frequently celebrate large and mini reunions and have traveled to Rochefort Sur Mer in France, to visit the city where the school was established.
We continue to search for the other approximately 300 alumni who attended Rochefort during its short existence from 1953-58.
If you are one of us, please let us know:
MORE:
http://www.rochefortfranceahs.org/
CONTACTS
Miriam Ramirez '58
mjean1@gmail.com
CURRENT OFFICERS
Lance Burris '57, president
lanceburris@sbcglobal.net or lburris@ilea.in.gov
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