Historical Note of the Week

While it will unlikely last for the 500 years as requested by his parents, this glimpse into the life of a French soldier felled in World War I is certainly a rare thing to behold.  It is unfortunate that we haven't preserved our history more.  Stories can be told, but they wouldn't convey what it must be like to be "in" this bit of history.  From The Washington Post:

His torn military jacket still hangs by his desk and his shoes are still tucked neatly by his bed — relics of a life lost long ago. In the small village of Bélâbre in central France sits the room of Hubert Rochereau, untouched for nearly a century as a memorial to the fallen solider, who died during World War I. It’s “an unforgettable journey back in time,” reported la Noveulle Republique, which described it as a “mummified room.”

The entire article, along with pictures, can be read here:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/12/29/world-war-i-soldiers-room-untouched-for-almost-100-years/