Two generations later and 4,700 miles away, the Tarlottings went to Morganville on Sunday, to deliver a gift for the support Feve received from Morganville after the Second World War. They brought with them a framed photo of Feve, France.
Girard Tarlotting, Feve’s vice mayor, his wife Solonge, his son Ebert and his wife Christine and their kids Paul and Emma were all there to thank the community for their support and to invite residents of Morganville to join them in 2014, in Feve, to celebrate 70 years since the liberation of Feve by Gen. George Patton.
During Operation Democracy’s “Adopt a Town” project, Morganville residents sent the citizens in Feve clothes, milk for children, bedding and provided shelter for them. Morganville was listed as the smallest town in the program, however, they managed to raise almost a thousand dollars (about 10,000 dollars today).
Girard Tarlotting was very young in 1948. He is now in charge of city projects in Feve. He thanked the organizers for the opportunity and said that the group represents the whole town, including the mayor’s office and the school.
“In November, 2014 we will celebrate the fact that 70 years ago General Patton and his troops freed Feve from the German army,” said Tarlotting when he invited everybody over to join them in celebration.
He also talked about his plans to return in 2016 as he looks forward to a longer relationship with the residents of Morganville, The Dispatch reports.
Ebert Tarlotting, Girard Tarlotting’s son confessed that he didn’t quite know what has happened until recently and he thanked the residents of Morganville from everybody in Feve, for all they have done for them ‘because it was very special.’
For both the Feve group and residents of Morganville it felt more like a family reunion than anything else. They exchanged photos, took refreshments and group pictures. Some of the residents of Morganville have already been over to Feve in the past, but it was the first time a family from Feve went to America to visit Morganville.
“When you guys have a goal, there’s nothing can stop you,” Tarlotting said. “From a town like this you were able to gather about $10,000 and were able to help an entire town in France.”
Historian Arthur Vaughan, showed the group a video presentation of the program president Eisenhower started – Adopt a Town. He said that the story is still being developed today and that anybody who has a story to tell or photos or names of people who engaged in the program at the time, to contact the Clay County Museum.