The Major League Baseball Home Run Hitting Contest was just about to begin as my son, Doug, and I boarded the plane at the Newark Airport. Although the trip had nothing to do with sports, it was a shared interest in sports that created the impetus for this extraordinary adventure.

A few years ago, while on vacation in New Orleans, Jean and I visited the city’s World War II Museum. The building is a fantastic attraction that held special personal meaning to me as my father had served in the European theatre culminating with the Battle of the Bulge as a Master Sergeant with the Pennsylvania 28th Division. While there, I purchased a book entitled “No Greater Love,” which detailed the WW II experiences of several MLB greats. Players chronicled included Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Bob Feller and Jerry Coleman among many others. It was a fascinating read.

With appreciation, I wrote a letter to its author, Todd Anton, a school history teacher living near San Diego. A few weeks later, I was surprised to receive a letter from Anton. He included his contact information and suggested I contact him. As our communications developed, we learned we shared many interests, chief among them was a keen love of baseball and a military family background.

Both our fathers had served in WW II, and both of us had served in the military. Todd in the Army, and me with the Air Force. Both of our dads introduced and taught us all about the game we’ve enjoyed all our lives. Our rooting interests varied greatly; Todd with the Dodgers and mine with the Pirates and Red Sox. But, our passion was just as strong on opposite ends of the country.

Last July Todd presented a most unexpected invitation to join him on a commemorative trip to France in association with the 75th anniversary of the Allied landing in Normandy. It was a chance for what would be an emotional pilgrimage retracing those most dangerous footsteps my dad walked 75 years ago.

(Note: Webb Weekly has afforded me the opportunity to share the details of my experience. Those stories will be included in yet to be determined future editions.)

As we crossed the pond and arrived in Paris (my first travels to Europe) I soon realized that the Home Run Hitting Contest and the subsequent MLB All-Star game were of little consequence. These were events I never missed on TV and on a few occasions in person. But in France, they received no mention. I couldn’t even find an English speaking channel on the TV. There was interest in the World Cup, Wimbledon, and the Tour de France, but baseball — it wasn’t even an afterthought!

As my 12-day sojourn continued across four countries (France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany), I wondered if I may have established a Lycoming County record. On one of those days, I set foot in all four of those countries. I’ll claim the record until someone proves otherwise. I certainly had never done that before.

Traveling the countryside, I never once saw anything resembling a baseball field. The only stadium I saw was the Stade de France in Paris. It seats 80,698, the eighth-largest stadium in Europe. It is used by the France national football team and the French rugby union team for international competitions. Despite the stadium’s size, there are no adjacent parking lots that are commonplace here in the States.

The favorite sport of the Europeans is undeniably soccer, with over 4 billion people following the game. Although during my visit I saw fewer than a half dozen outdoor basketball hoops, basketball is their second favorite with over 1 billion followers. Rugby is growing in popularity among team sports.

Tennis courts are abundant, and bicycles were everywhere!

I was surprised to learn that European schools do not have associated school sports teams. In France the school day is long, and children spend much time sitting behind a desk reading, writing and listening. Time for sports and other extra-curricular activities during a typical school day is scarce. Imagine how that would go over in this country.

The school structure is similar to ours with primary, middle, and high school distinctions – but no sports! Club teams provide sports for those interested participants. There are approximately 6,500 club teams associated with FIFA (Federation International Football Association).

In 1959 Chuck Berry released a hit song ‘Back in the USA.’ For me, it is good to be back. Now, take me out to the ballgame ASAP!