CRESTVIEW — Visiting residents of Noirmoutier, France don’t have to look far to see a symbol of Crestview’s appreciation for its Sister City.
The “Jardin de Noirmoutier,” the Garden of Noirmoutier, is located at Northwest Florida State College’s Bob Sikes Education Center in Crestview. The area, dedicated Oct. 15, reflects the commitment to cultural and educational partnership between Crestview, NWFSC and Noirmoutier, France.
Forty-three French visitors and their Crestview area hosts attended the dedication. They shared their stories and support for the Sister Cities International program.
Some Northwest Florida residents have hosted French visitors many times.
Pam and Joe Coffield have hosted Noirmoutier visitors since the program started 20 years ago.
“We got involved in the spring of 1996 when a member of our church, the late Aileen Barley, organized the first visit,” Pam Coffield said. “We have hosted every year since and have been to visit our friends in Noirmoutier six times.”
The Coffields are hosting Marie Therese and Gerard Moreau and Gerard’s sister, Denise, this visit. Gerard Moreau is the Noirmoutier Sister City Committee’s vice president.
Pam Coffield said one of their past French guests, Anthony Brochard, a Noirmoutier World War II historian, couldn’t make the trip this time. However, she and her husband dedicated the World War II plaque in the Noirmoutier garden to him.
“It is so important to Anthony what the United States troops did for his country during World War II,” Pam Coffield stated with tears in her eyes.
Montavius Diamond, a Crestview native and a volunteer for the Sister City program, said his family is hosting Philippe and Kathy Lemoine.
“This is the fourth time we have hosted a family from Noirmoutier and we love it!” Diamond said. “It is a great way to learn about the culture and language of another country.”
Other Northwest Florida residents are new to hosting French visitors.
The Bears family — Dan, Liz and son Benjamin — are hosting a Noirmoutier visitor for the first time.
“We heard through our church that host families were needed for visitors from our sister city in France. So we got involved,” Liz Bears said.
“We are hosting Benedicte Lerman, who is a journalist in Noirmoutier,” Dan Bears said. “It’s great!”
Their son, Benjamin, played nearby with Romain Corbrejand, son of Fabrice and Ghislaine Corbrejand. Although neither spoke the other’s native language, that did not keep the two boys from having fun running around.
Noirmoutier guests will be in Crestview through Oct. 24.
Many other events are planned to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Crestview and Noirmoutier, France becoming Sister Cities.
- It is the 20th anniversary of Crestview’s relationship with Noirmoutier, France under Sister Cities International.
- Crestview currently hosts 43 visitors, including nine dignitaries, from its Sister City and neighboring towns on the island of Noirmoutier, off France’s west coast near Nantes.
- Sister Cities International began in 1956 as part of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s “Citizen Diplomacy” initiative.
- Brian Hughes is the Crestview Area Sister City Program president.
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This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Garden dedicated to Crestview's French Sister City