Now We Are Orphans: A Story of Horror, Hope and Family Love

By JR Miller

Now We Are Orphans tells the story of how the savagery of war impacted a family living in Lourdes, France during World War II. A young French boy and his sister become orphans at the hands of the Nazis after the deaths of their parents. The story follows the boy Marcel, on his meandering path to adoption, which takes him from France across the Pyrenees Mountains to orphanages in England and the United States. The story captures the essence of family love, lost and rediscovered.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Dec 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665732550

JR Miller

J.R. Miller was born in Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended the University of Baltimore and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. He also holds a Master’s degree in Governmental Administration from the Fels School at the University of Pennsylvania. He held executive positions in governmental procurement and was an instructor and consultant for NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement. He has authored textbooks and taught procurement, management and leadership classes throughout the United States and Canada. Additionally, he was an adjunct professor at Harford Community College in Maryland and the University of Virginia.

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Copyright © 2022 JR Miller.

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Archway Publishing

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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ISBN: 978-1-6657-3254-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3255-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022919868

Archway Publishing rev. date: 11/26/2022

Contents

Introduction

Prologue

Bon Temps Boulangerie

Understanding Diop

Diop’s Sickness

The War Moves Closer

The Horror of War

The Orphanage of St. Stephen

Diop Joins the Resistance

General De Gaulle Sends Assistance

The War Comes Closer

Josette’s Jewish Identity

The Bakery Closes

The Resistance Army

Nazi Terror at the Bakery

Now We Are Orphans

Marcel and Nicole Find a New Home

Josette Arrives at Auschwitz

Life at the Orphanage

Josette’s Final Days

Nicole’s Adoption

The Arrest of Mother Anne Marie

Marcel Walks the Pyrénées Mountains

Danger on the Mountain Trail

The Capture of Mark and Tim

Frostbite and Gangrene

Marcel’s Amputation

Marcel’s Voyage to England

Another New Beginning

Welcome to America

Marcel Finds a New Home

Marcel Longs to See His Sister

A Visit With Nicole

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

Historical Fiction

About the Author

References/Acknowledgements and Inspirational Attribution

ALSO BY JR MILLER

Towers on the Beach (www.towersonthebeach.com)

Introduction

On June 14, 1940, German troops rolled into the streets of Paris from the northwest and marched triumphantly down the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées in the heart of the French capital. A Frenchman, moved to tears by the image of the Nazi flag with its swastika, could raise his voice only loudly enough for a fellow countryman to hear: My beautiful country, as we have known it, is no more.

The horrors of war are lived at a very personal level. Some live close to its terror, others at a distance, but all feel its impact on their lives. The brutality of war touches individuals. It rearranges a person’s values and character. Orphans of war bear immeasurable emotional and psychological trauma that may last a lifetime.

It is estimated that over ten million European children became war orphans during World War II. Thousands eventually came to the United States. Many were placed in foster care and adopted.

Now We Are Orphans tells the story of how the savagery of war impacted a family living in Lourdes, France. A young French boy and his sister become orphans at the hands of the Nazis after losing their parents. The story follows the boy, Marcel, on his meandering path to adoption, which takes him from France across the Pyrénées Mountains, to orphanages in England and the United States.

This story captures the essence of family love, lost and rediscovered.

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Prologue

November, 1992

On this cool, late autumn morning, the sky is pale blue and a flock of Canada geese can be seen flying to their winter destination. The mourners crowd into St. Ignatius Church in Hickory, Maryland. Family and friends greet each other with hugs and tears. They slowly move into the pews of this historic church that was the foundation of Marc Whiteford’s faith since his adoption and arrival in Maryland. Several stop to read the obituary from the local newspaper which someone placed on the wall just inside the main entrance.

THE BEL AIR, MARYLAND TIMES NEWS JOURNAL: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1992

OBITUARIES

Marcel Whiteford

Mr. Whiteford, devoted husband, father, and educator, died of complications from a heart attack on November 15 at his home on Eagle Wings Farm.

The Harford County, Maryland resident was 61.

Mr. Marcel Whiteford (Garmon) was a graduate of the Maryland State Teachers College. He received his Master’s degree in Education from Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland. He taught French and English at North Harford High School and coached the boys’ varsity soccer team for over twenty years. He retired in 1991.

He is survived by his wife, Lee; their son, Joseph; his wife, Julie; Marcel’s sister, Nicole; and her husband, Lucas. He is predeceased by his adoptive parents, George and Mary Whiteford. A funeral Mass will be held at St. Ignatius Church in Hickory, Maryland at 11:00 a.m. on November 21. He will be buried in the church cemetery.

With no more room in the pews, the mourners line the aisles along the exterior walls of the church and stand shoulder to shoulder in the narthex. Marc’s family squeezes into the first pew in front of the altar. The sun makes its way through the stained glass windows as Father Lafferty follows the casket and the six pall bearers. The casket is placed so that Lee can reach out and touch it, keeping Marc close.

The family holds hands. Father Lafferty blesses the casket and whispers to Lee, Joseph tells me he will deliver Marc’s eulogy.

Lee gives a tearful nod.

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One

January, 1930

Bon Temps Boulangerie

L ourdes lies near the foothills of the Pyrénées Mountains in southwestern France. In 1858, the town rose to worldwide distinction due to the Marian apparitions seen by the peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous, who was later canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1862, and veneration of Mary as Our Lady of Lourdes was authorized. The underground spring in the grotto, revealed to Bernadette, was declared to have miraculous qualities, and pilgrims believe that the water has the power to heal.

Lourdes slowly gained prominence as one of the world’s well-known sites for religious pilgrimages. Prior to the German invasion of France in 1940, thousands visited the town and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. Yearly, the number of pilgrims increased, and hotels, shops, churches, and homes were built at a rapid pace.

Just two miles from Lourdes is the village of Bartrès, France. It is a small, peaceful place with cobblestone streets and tall, narrow buildings with ivy-coated walls. The village is also well known for its connection to Bernadette Soubirous and is a popular tourist destination.

Claude Garmon was born in this quiet town in 1911. At age fourteen, he met and soon fell in love with Josette Engel. They lived near each other in Bartrès and attended the same primary school in Lourdes. They married in 1930. Their son, Marcel, was born in 1931, and their daughter Nicole arrived in 1934.

A strong Catholic upbringing was provided to Claude by his parents. He loved to hear the stories of the apparitions of the Blessed Mother and visited the grotto frequently with his family. Josette’s mother was raised in the Lutheran religion, and her father was Jewish. After she began dating Claude and spending time with his family, she began attending Mass with them.

They were married by a Catholic priest in the garden behind the Lady of Lourdes Church. Soon after the wedding, Josette embraced the Catholic faith. As the years passed, the Garmon family would attend Mass on Sunday and participate in various other religious events. Claude and Josette participated in church activities. Claude assisted with social events and Josette sang in the choir. Marcel became an altar boy and Nicole joined her mother as a member of the children’s choir. They were a close, loving family.

Soon after completing his secondary education and marrying Josette, Claude began working in a boulangerie (bakery) in Lourdes. The Bon Temps Boulangerie (Good Time Bakery), located on the busy Rue de la Grotto (Grotto Street), supplied bakery items for many of the hotels. The bakery was old but inviting. The peeling, whitewashed walls displayed many Claude Monet reproductions. There were copper and cast iron pots and pans hanging everywhere. At the back of the shop, two large doors led to a beautiful garden with flowers and herbs. Rosemary, lavender, and thyme, tied with ribbon in small bunches, hung under the front windows. When in bloom, wildflowers sat in a large glass vase in front of the cash register.

Daily, Claude and the other employees baked and delivered an assortment of fresh breads and pastries from the oven. They also were busy with walk-in customers who sat at the few tables and booths where they could enjoy a coffee and éclair while discussing world events and the beauty of the shrine. During the warmer months, other small tables were placed on the cobblestone walk in front of the entrance to accommodate the many tourists.

Claude began working there as the clean-up and delivery person, but quickly gained the skills necessary to become the apprentice pain (bread) baker. He soon perfected the cold-dough baguette, along with artisan and classic breads, croissants and flatbreads. He also created his personal recipe for spice honey bread. The Roman crusaders brought their aromatic spice bread to France in the second century, and it became a favorite in Lourdes. Claude’s recipe included rye flour, honey, and aromatic mixed spices. It was one of the bakery’s best sellers—fragrant and flavorful.

In a short period of time Claude assumed more responsibility. The elderly owners, Pierre and Lucinda Rabete, liked and trusted his family and him. Lucinda slowly began to educate him on the business part of the bakery. She once asked Claude, You make excellent bread in the oven, but can you make a profit from the cash register? Claude worked long hours and usually six days a week. He was told that he was one of the youngest bakers in Lourdes. His love was baking, not the financial side of the business.

As Pierre grew older, he realized that due to some major health issues impacting Lucinda and him, he needed to develop a backup staff of skilled bakers. This would allow him to spend less time at the oven and more time helping Lucinda on the business and marketing side of the boulangerie.

During the years 1935 to 1938, Lourdes was crowded with religious pilgrims and now had almost as many hotels and inns as Paris. Pierre and Lucinda decided it was time to hire some additional help. Pierre knew many of the nearby concierge staff at several hotels. He inquired regarding his need for an experienced baker.

He was promptly introduced to a new arrival to Lourdes who had baking experience. Diop Medar immigrated to France from Cameroon, Africa. At the time, it was a French territory, and due to social and religious unrest, many emigrated from Cameroon to France. Diop lived with his parents in Paris before moving to Lourdes. He spoke excellent French and had never married. He lived in a small room in the basement of one of the nearby hotels and waited tables in the hotel restaurant. After a long conversation one evening at the bakery, Pierre offered Diop a job. Over time, Claude and Diop developed a close friendship. Diop, an excellent rugby and soccer player, would play on the field outside of town with Claude and other young men.

On a busy spring Saturday morning in 1938, as Claude and Diop were removing the croissants from the oven, Pierre caught Claude’s eye and motioned him to come closer. "Un moment, s’il vous plait" (One moment, if you please). He walked Claude toward the back of the bakery near the small storage closet.

Lucinda and I were thinking of an idea that I would like to discuss with you. Do you think you would consider moving here to the apartment above the bakery? As Lucinda and I age, the stairs are beginning to bother us. We also have the opportunity to move nearby and live with my cousin. His son was just drafted into the French army, so he has the space and it will be an easy walk to here. You know the layout, and the second bedroom will be large enough for Marcel and Nicole. You will also be closer to your church and a few short steps down the stairs to work. Let me know if you and Josette would want to look at it. Also, do you think Josette would consider working a few hours a week at the counter? If you accept my offer, it will have some financial benefits for you. For the time being, let’s keep this conversation just between us. You know how quickly rumors spread.

That evening, as Claude and the family gathered for dinner, Claude shared Pierre’s discussion with him. I know we enjoy our house, but living in the apartment above the bakery does have its advantages, and every year the rent here keeps increasing.

Josette showed interest as Claude carefully laid out the pros and cons. Claude, tell me, how much longer do you think Pierre and Lucinda will continue to operate the bakery?

I think both are in their late sixties. So maybe just a few more years, depending on their health, but you never know. Everything could change quickly, especially with the winds of war all around us. Pierre and Lucinda don’t have family who would be interested in the business. You know we have talked about the possibility of buying the bakery, if we could work out the financial part with him. Sometimes I think they look at us as family. Josette, if they made an attractive offer, do you think you would be happy owning a bakery?

Josette swallowed her forkful of salmon. "I don’t know about buying the bakery, but moving to the apartment wouldn’t change our lives that much. The children will attend the same school and you already work six days a week, so we can just run down the stairs to say bonjour (good day) to you. I think I would like working and waiting on customers a few hours a week. Maybe I could display and sell some of my paintings there."

Marcel and Nicole sat quietly and listened intently to the conversation, occasionally kicking each other under the table.

Claude pushed back from the table and looked at the children. So, how do you two feel about moving to the apartment above the bakery? Marcel dropped his fork and stared at his father.

Papa, I don’t want to leave Bartrès. All of my friends are here. We have our garden and the pond with my fish. Why do we have to leave?

Claude understood Marcel’s response and tried to explain some of the positives. "Marcel, you know there is a beautiful garden behind the bakery. I think Monsieur Pierre will let us have a small fish pond. Your school will be closer. There is also a large park where we can play soccer and rugby. We will all enjoy the large balcony that looks out at the mountains. I will be working just downstairs, so you will see me more often. Maman (Mother) and I think you will quickly adjust, and Nicole and you will be very happy there. We will have more family time together. Nicole had been silent, but Claude coaxed a response. Nicole, what do you think?" She stared at Marcel with bright blue eyes.

Will I still have to sleep with Marcel?

Claude and Josette both laughed and Josette leaned over to touch her hand. My little one, Papa will make you your own bed so you will not have to sleep with Marcel. Will that make you happy?

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Two

July, 1938

Understanding Diop

S ummer found Claude, Josette, Marcel, and Nicole settled in the apartment above the Bon Temps Boulangerie. School was back in session and Marcel liked the shorter walk and being closer to some of his friends. He also was hoping that Monsieur Pierre would allow Claude to place a small pond in the garden behind the bakery. He walked at a leisurely pace up the stone path toward the rear stairs that led to the apartment with his book bag over his shoulder. As he got closer, he saw Diop kneeling in the grass behind the gazebo, striking his breast. His father had introduced him to Diop, but usually they only waved hello. Diop quickly stood and waved at Marcel. He greeted him with a Bonjour, Marcel! as he wiped his hands on his soiled white apron. You caught me saying my afternoon prayers to Allah! How was your time at school?

"Très bon (very good), M’sieur (Mr.) Diop. I like my teacher and he surprised us today. He said he is going to teach the class how to play chess and perhaps start a chess club at school. Papa has been showing me how to play so I know most of the moves. Do you play chess?"

Yes, I do know the game of chess and would play it with my friends when I lived in Paris. I have a small chess set that I brought with me. Actually, all of the pieces are wood and were hand carved by my grandfather when we lived in Cameroon. Let me know when you would want to play, but remember, I do not like to lose! Marcel smiled and yelled back as he ran up the stairs, Me neither!

Josette and Nicole greeted Marcel with a warm hug. Josette’s oil paints and brushes were spread out on the table in the kitchen. Nicole sat watching each stroke while eating an apple from the tree in the garden. Marcel admired the painting. Maman, another flower painting? Where will you hang it?

"Oui (yes), it will be a new flower that I have not painted before. See the flowers in the vase near the stove? They are the ones I am painting. These are in bloom now and they are growing in the garden. I am sure you have seen them. They are called periwinkle clematis, and I love the blue and purple color! They were all over Monet’s garden in Giverny. When I finish it, I am going to display it downstairs. I think the bakery needs a small gallery that greets our customers when they enter!"

Marcel walked over to look at the flowers. Maman, they are beautiful. You will have to tell me about your visit to Giverny and all about M’sieur Monet. Tell me, when you will finish this? Josette set the wet brushes in the jar on the evier (sink) and carefully moved the painting off the table. Marcel, I have only begun this and my guess is that it will take me about six more weeks before it is finished. Since I am working in the bakery a few hours a week, I have less time to devote to my painting. Why are you asking?

Marcel followed her down the hall to her bedroom. Our school is looking for a volunteer to give eighth-grade students art lessons every Thursday morning. Just wanted to let you know. I have a letter in my book bag which explains it. I know you are really busy.

Josette laid the painting on the bed. I wish I could, but now is not a good time for me. How did your day go? Anything exciting happening?

Maman, I was just talking to Diop. I told him my teacher was going to give the class chess lessons, and he said he knows how to play. I know Diop doesn’t go to our church and that he says he prays to Allah. I just saw him kneeling and praying. Is Allah the same as the Lord we pray to?

Startled, Josette wondered how