I want to thank Vaughn Madden who was General Manager for CMA 2004. Vaughn listened and heard what sometimes needed to be said. As a result, she was instrumental with regard to some of the invitations I received to represent New England Acadians; for radio and newspaper interviews; for inviting me to be a participant in the Closing Mass on August 15th.
My thanks also to Donna Doucet, Director at the Grand-Pr? Historical site for inviting me to participate as a presenter at this most wonderful and Acadian historic site. My presentation was about New England Acadians.
Finally, a warm thank you to the LeBlanc Family Association who invited me as one of two speakers for the reunion. Five thousand LeBlanc descendants were there. Stephen A. White, Genealogist spoke about Marie-Blanche LeBlanc who was deported four times.
My presentation was on Acadian History. It was wonderful to meet the many cousins I have corresponded with online who were at this presentation. Thank you *all* for making it a wonderful experience!
The year 2005 will see festivities commemorating the 400th anniversary of Port-Royal. Now called Annapolis Royal, it was settled by the first Acadian Ancestors in 1605.
CMA 2009 will be held in Caraquet, New Brunswick. Information will be posted here as it is received.
The LeBlanc Family Reunion Committee invited me as one of two presenters at the LeBlanc Family Reunion at CMA 2004. My presentation was on Acadian History in PowerPoint and the other very well known speaker was none other than Stephen A. White who spoke on Marie-Blanche LeBlanc who had been deported no less than four times.
Like a ship in full sail I leave joyfully. Like a night sky pierced with stars I wait for the morning sun. Offshore, the ships call out to me and the wind calls me back to my country I return to the cradle of Acadie. I miss the storms of past winters, I miss the colours of my youth. Port Royal calls out to its children, I hear the bells of Grand-Pr? Like a bird carrying a message of a beautiful spring Like a river freed from dams and glaciers I return to the cradle of Acadie.
From the Baie des Chaleurs to the land of the bayou, in the ports of New England From Belle-?le-en-Mer, in the fields of Poitou Everywhere, you can hear Acadie. From all over the world I see my friends returning. Some will want to speak of harder times. But I want to see my country reborn. A land without borders, my father's garden, A country re-energized by a torrent of pride I return to the cradle of Acadie.
My blood needs the salt air, my heart beats to the rhythm of the fiddle. I hear thunder in a quiet sky, I smell all the scents of the seasons. I've decided to return to the land of my forefathers with memories of friendship and separation I return to the cradle of Acadie
From the Baie des Chaleurs to the land of the bayou, in the ports of New England From Belle-?le-en-Mer, in the fields of Poitou Everywhere, you can hear Acadie I am coming home, I want to renew the ties, I want to see my country I return to the cradle of Acadie Overjoyed I return with a peaceful heart I want to see my country I return to the cradle of Acadie.
Words and music by Grand D?rangement, (c) 2004