These pictures were contributed by Dick Miller who attended the annual
French depot workers reunion at Saumur on Sept 16, 2000.

 Dick's Comments:
We just got back from the Saumur Signal Depot Reunion and had a very exciting time. Going over on American Airlines I had made a comment that it was our 40th wedding anniversary on Sept 16th, the same day as the reunion, so the stewardess brought a bottle of champagne and we had a toast. What a way to start off a trip. On the 15th of September I had the privilege to meet Bill Messner and his wife Josette, along with three Frenchman, Bernard Quelin, Guy Fromy, and Pierre Labrousse, the president of the club at the old bowling alley. The bowling alley is now fixed up and added on to for large banquets, weddings or any large get together. Again we had another toast (oh how I hate those toasts.) They were getting things together for the following day. The following day was the big day at Montreuil Bellay at the old Depot which doesn't look like it did forty years ago. There are many new buildings and the old cement buildings have new siding so you wouldn't recognize them. It is a large industrial area. At 11:00 AM they had the flag raising of both the American and French flags and the National Anthems. It made you think of the long years back. Pierre Labrousse gave a short speech and said there will be Champagne at the court house in Montreuil Bellay (again). The mayor gave a short speech and the bottles started popping. After, everyone was on their way to Varrains at the old bowling alley for a banquet (the food and wine was great) for the reunion. There were a total of 156 people but just a few Americans. I met Bill Messner and his wife Josette who now lives in Saumur and Bill Williams and his wife who live in Angers. The rest were French people who had worked at the Depot and are now located all over France. The banquet lasted longer then we could make it, as we left about ten o'clock and they were still going strong. Over all, it was a great day and I want to thank everyone over there for the time that they spent to make it a big success. We spoke to quite a few of the French people and they are still happy that all of us could get together. Hope for the next one more Americans can make it before we all get too old. Richard and Ginette Miller 

Bill & Josie Messner & Ginette Miller Saumur from the new bridge Vineyard Miller, Messner & Labrousse Varrains
Interior of bowling alley Camp American Depot Interesting double exposure Miller with old jeep
Messner & Miller In the air Williams, Messner & wives Ginette miller, Quelin, Fromy, Labrousse, Bill & Josette Messner Camp American housing
SSD Sign Flag Raising Day Reunion Group French newspaper article of reunion French newspaper article of reunion
Chateau and street-Double exposure Varrains Church Raising the French flag Bill Messner raising the flag French reunion participants
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