Program 792: Remember Us; The Greater Journey

It's a way to thank the people who fought — and those who died — for freedom from Nazi tyranny in the Second World War. On the next Travel with Rick Steves, Robert Edsel tells us how the Dutch continue to remember and honor the servicemen who helped liberate their towns in 1945.

And we revisit an interview with the late historian David McCullough on the importance of Paris in educating a generation of 19th century Americans. The skills they learned in France would help transform life back home in the New World. 

• Robert Edsel, author of "Remember Us: American Sacrifice, Dutch Freedom, and a Forever Promise Forged in World War II" (Harper Horizon)
• Late historian David McCullough, author of "The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris" (Simon & Schuster)

• Robert M. Edsel is the author of "Remember Us: American Sacrifice, Dutch Freedom, and a Forever Promise Forged in World War II." It's published by HarperCollins.
• The National WWII Museum in New Orleans has a permanent exhibit on the work of the Monuments Men and Women, which Robert has also written about.
• Robert previously spoke with Rick about the mission of the Monuments Men and Women, and starting a foundation to honor their work, on Travel with Rick Steves program #734 and on program #565 He told us how their story was made into a major motion picture on program #353.
• David McCullough discussed how Paris shaped America in his 2011 book "The Greater Journey."
• A posthumous collection of thought-provoking essays by David McCullough is scheduled to be released by his long-time publisher Simon and Schuster in September 2025. It's called "History Matters."

• KAPT_KAPT_0018_00501_French_Gardens_APM
• Ray Ventura, "On ira prende not'linge sur la linge Siegfried," Les Chansons de la Liberation (collection) / Distribution Soldore (France)
• Chee-Yun, violin, Akira Eguchi, piano, "Sonata in A for Violin and Piano - Finale (César Franck)," The Spirit of '96 (collection) / NPR Classics
• John Williams, "Pavane for Guitar and String Orchestra (Gabriel Fauré, arranged by J. Williams)," Creating the Perfect Atmosphere (collection) / Sony Classical
• James DeMars, "An American Requiem, part 4: Memorial Prayer (James DeMars)," An American Requiem for Soloists, Chorus, and Orchestra / Arts Renaissance Foundation
• Alexandre Desplat, "The Roosevelt Mission," The Monuments Men (soundtrack) / Sony Music
• * Count Basie and his Orchestra, "For the Good of Your Country," I'm Beginning To See The Lighr (soundtrack collection from Ken Burns' The War) / Legacy
• Travnicek Quartet, "String Quartet in F major, No. 35, II: assez vif (Ravel)," Impressionist Masterminds (collection) / X5 Music Group
• CEZ_CEO_2164_00201_Waves_Of_Blood_APM
• Mormon Tabernacle Choir, "Hymn to the Fallen," Showtime! / (self-released)
• Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, Michel Plasson, conductor, "Gnossienne no. 3 (Satie, orch. Poulenc," Satie: Orchestral Works / EMI Classics
• Instrumental intro to Nilsson, "As Time Goes By," Harry Nilsson-All Time Greatest Hits / RCA
• Intro to Germaine Sablon, "Le chant des partisans," Les Chansons de la Liberation (collection) / Distribution Soldore (France)
• KPM_KPM_0137_04301_Last_Post_APM
• Glenn Miller Orchestra, "American Patrol," I'm Beginning To See The Light (soundtrack collection from Ken Burns' The War) / Legacy
• * Ralph Rousseau, "La montagne," Chansons d'amour / Challenge Classics
• Vert, "Original Oddstep (revised by Grand Unified)," Saint Germain Café: The Finest Electro-Jazz Compilation (collection) / Wagram (France)
• Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Adriano, cond., "Musique chez Gillenormand (composed by Arthur Honegger for the 1938 film score to 'Les Miserables')," Les Miserables: complete film score / Naxos-Marco Polo
• TCS_TCS_0025_00801_Poor_But_Handsome_APM
• Ljubljana Symphony Orchestra, Carter Nice, conductor, Roy Bogas, piano, "American in Paris (George Gershwin)," Barber: Symphony No. 1, Gershwin American in Paris Concerto in F / Stradivari Classics (1998)
• Orchestre de l'Association des Concerts Colonne (Georges Tzipine, cond.), "'La cour de marbre," from the Jean Françaix film 'Si Versaille m'était conté'," Le Film Français: Honegger, Françaix, Sauguet, Thiriet / EMI Classics
• City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, "La clé de la victoire," The City of Lost Children (soundtrack) / Point Music-Polygram
• Louis Armstrong, "I Love Paris," Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone / LRC

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• The topics of today's program are particularly well-suited to airing during the Memorial Day weekend.
• Rick and Robert refer to the closing events of the Second World War in Europe at various times as taking place "80 years ago."
• At 7:34, Rick refers to "the political discourse in our country today." He also calls "Remember Us" Robert Edsel's "new book" at 8:09.
• At 27:36, Rick and Robert express their concerns about continued funding for military history organizations, such as the American Battle Monuments Commission and Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, during a time of severe government cutbacks.
• At the end of segment B, and in the interview introduction in segment C, Rick notes that the David McCullough interview coming up was last heard "ten years ago."
• The difficult-to-pronounce Danish treat, mentioned at the open to segment C, is touted as a summertime treat in Denmark.
• In a reset at 47:06, Rick notes that Simon & Schuster will release a book of David McCullough's essays "this September."