CRESTVIEW — Today's Okaloosa County had several early European influences, including colonial Spain and England, and migrating Scots and Scandinavians. The French didn't get much farther east than Mobile, Ala.
But 20 years ago, French influence at last arrived locally.
In September 1994, Russell Sneddon, chairman of Fort Walton Beach's Emerald Coast Sister Cities, suggested twinning Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, a French island community, with Fort Walton Beach, and three neighboring French communities with Destin, Niceville and Crestview.
In May 1995, a 12-member Okaloosa County delegation visited Noirmoutier. It included Crestview contractor Joe Barley, Niceville Mayor Randall Wise, Cliff Herron of then-Okaloosa-Walton College, and "a group of ladies from Bluewater Bay," Barley said.
"Fort Walton didn't send anyone and they were the intended partner of Noirmoutier."
STEP-SISTERHOOD
An October 1995 reciprocal visit was postponed when Hurricane Opal struck. In February 1996, the French delegation was charmed by Okaloosa County's beaches and Crestview Mayor George Whitehurst and citizens' hospitality.
The attempt to unite three of the French communities with Destin, Niceville and Fort Walton Beach failed.
In May 1997, Noirmoutier instead formalized a partnership with Crestview under Sister Cities International, an offshoot of President Dwight Eisenhower's "citizen diplomacy" initiative.
"We were supposed to be the step-sister, but we were the ones who got partnered," Barley said, chuckling at the irony. "We've had Noirmoutier for 20 years so we did pretty good."
"The Sister Cities relationship works well and our activities have grown to be quite numerous," said RenéRelandeau, president of Noirmoutier's Sister City Committee. "The frequent exchanges, encounters and contacts generate numerous friendships."
EDUCATIONAL BENEFIT
Crestview High School French teacher Chris Lanoue said students — some of whom are underprivileged and might not otherwise experience foreign cultures — benefit from the program's cultural and educational opportunities.
The Northwest Florida State College show choirs perform every two years in Noirmoutier. Select University of Nantes' business students study at NWFSC and intern at the Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce.
On May 6, an 18-member Crestview delegation with 56 college show choir students and faculty arrives in Noirmoutier to help celebrate the 70th anniversary of France's World War II liberation.
In October, 22 Noirmoutrin students will visit Crestview with eight adults. In 2016, a 45-member delegation, led by Noirmoutier Mayor Noël Faucher, will help Crestview celebrate its Centennial.
'DELIGHTFUL PEOPLE'
"They are the most delightful people," Mayor David Cadle said.
Cadle's favorite experience with the relationship was when Faucher made him an honorary Noirmoutrin, draping a red, white and blue sash around his neck before a crowd in Jack Foster Stadium.
"We had that ceremony before the game and we had both flags flying and the band played 'La Marseillaise,'" Cadle said, referring to the French national anthem. "I felt so international."
Barley said he is pleased the program has been so successful.
"It's such a beautiful, interesting place, so full of history," Barley said of Noirmoutier. "The people are wonderful, the food is great. I was just using some of their salt the other night while cooking," he added, referring to Noirmoutier's famous high-grade "fleur de sel" sea salt harvested in the island's central marshes.
BY THE NUMBERS
110: Approximate number of Crestview/Okaloosa County adults welcomed in Noirmoutier homes since 1995
450: Approximate number of Northwest Florida State College show choir students welcomed in Noirmoutier
80: Approximate number of NWFSC faculty welcomed in Noirmoutier
190: Noirmoutrin adult visitors to Crestview and Okaloosa County
63: Noirmoutrin high school students welcomed in Crestview homes
6: French interns at Crestview and Okaloosa County businesses on multi-month internships
3: University of Nantes business students studying at NWFSC
INFORMATION
To learn more about the Crestview Area Sister City Program, contact Pam or Joe Coffield, 682-8437, jcoffield@cox.net, or Isabelle or Jim Mills, 682-8215, isajim1@cox.net
Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview, Okaloosa County celebrate 20-year friendship with French island