Photo by: Mary Anne Fackelman, The White House

July 31, 1945

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Richardson,

It's a fairly new little cemetery - but beautiful in its simplicity on a small hillside with about 5,000 neat white crosses. The grass hasn't come up yet, but there are plots of lovely red geraniums between the blocks of graves and in the center the American Flag at half-mast - and the whole cemetery surrounded by a neat white fence. Liz was the first American girl buried there - along in a line with others who had given their all - and surely for no better reason than did Liz - no one ever did more for people in all ways than she did...

Maggie, Mary and I leave tomorrow morning for Paris and Germany. Liz was to have been with us - and she will be every minute of the way. I hope all of us can keep a little of the spirit of Liz with us always - it was a wonderful one...

We are determined not to be sad - Liz wouldn't have want[ed] it, I know. We keep thinking of her wonderfully quick and humorous way of seeing a situation...

Liz had a good life, living each moment for its best - and she was so happy to be flying to Paris - so I know she had no regrets - and it came quickly...

Please know how much we think of you and want to help.

Sincerely,

Bette Brigham

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