Created in the chateau’s park to immortalize his presence in 1918, the stele is made of Semond Stone. The sculpted façade presents the 13 stripes of the American flag, representing the 13 founding states who united to form The United States of America. The stele supports a commemorative metal plaque created by the Harry Truman Presidential Library and Museum at Independence Missouri. It was covered by an American flag from 1948 with its 48 stars.
It was unveiled by Clifton Truman Daniel (grandson of Harry Truman) in the presence of representatives of the US ambassador to France, Mr. and Mrs. Len Robert Small, and the descendants of former owner Andre Martin, who came especially from the US to express forever the support of the American people.
The back of the stele contains the names of all those, both institutions and private individuals, who made this commemoration possible.
The sub-prefect of the town of Montbard and Mr. and Mrs. Len Small
Harry Truman's letters
During his stay at the Chateau, Truman wrote nine letters to his fiancée Bess, that you can find in the book “Harry Truman and the Great War” for sale at Chateau de Montigny sur Aube. If you would like to read in detail the contents of these letters, the book is available for a price of 15 Euros at the reception.
A book on the battle of Chatillon is also for sale; it was written by an American Officer in 1920 after returning to the US, and was recently translated into French.
In those letters we can find descriptions of the chateau, its park and interiors. He also offers his opinion on France, the French people, and a description of his activities in the training course.
Cliquer sur
l'image
pour agrandir
The Harry Truman Grove
At the inauguration, Clifton Truman Daniel signed copies of the book dedicated
to Harry Truman at the Chateau, being sold at the Chateau de Montigny sur Aube.
Clifton Truman Daniel, grandson of Harry Truman, and Marie-France Menage-Small, owner of the chateau, unveils the plaque from now on located in the grove which it is dedicated to, in the presence of American and French authorities.
Inauguration and commemoration of the 100th anniversary
of the presence of Harry Truman at the Chateau.
Inauguration in the presence of the 61st Artillery Regiment of Chaumont,“The Black Devils”, thanks to whom a French 75 canon had revisitedMontigny after a hundred years
On the occasion of the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War, in the presence of Clifton Truman Daniel (grandson of Harry Truman) and American and French civil and military authorities, the Harry Truman grove of Chateau de Montigny sur Aube was dedicated on October 11, 2018.
In 1918 the whole Chatillon region, and especially the Chateau de Montigny sur Aube, were welcoming with a unified spirit, all the future battalions of young Americans, often having volunteered without hesitation, but also without knowledge of the build-up of armaments on the hills surrounding the Chateau de Montigny sur Aube, and the sound of the French 75 canon, not far from the headquarters of The American expeditionary force at Chaumont (Haute-Marne) under the command of General John Pershing.
Harry Truman, then 34 years old, was part of the arrivals. Arriving as a junior officer, he left as a Captain, having successfully completed a high-level training course.
This period of his life gave him a knowledge of the world and of Europe that was witnessed by all his letters home and his biographer David McCullough, and which instilled in him the spirit of a leader which graced his march to power as President of the United States from 1945-1953.
and the Château de Montigny-sur-Aube
THE GREAT WAR
HARRY TRUMAN
CHATEAU DE MONTIGNY-SUR-AUBE
+33 (0)3 80 93 55 23 / +33 (0)6 08 90 75 10
Château de Montigny 21520 Montigny-sur-Aube
2 rue de l’Eglise 21520 – Montigny-sur-Aube