U.S. Passports in France
At a French airport... A group of American retired teachers recently went
to France on a tour. Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, was part of
the tour group.
At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry-on. "You have been to France before, monsieur?" the customs officer asked
sarcastically. Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France, previously.
"Then you should know enough to have your passport ready."
The American said, "The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."
"Impossible!" barked the officer. "Americans always have to show their passports on arrival in France."
The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly
explained. "Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in '44 to
help liberate this country, I couldn't find any Frenchmen to show it to."
At a French airport... A group of American retired teachers recently went
to France on a tour. Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, was part of
the tour group.
At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry-on. "You have been to France before, monsieur?" the customs officer asked
sarcastically. Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France, previously.
"Then you should know enough to have your passport ready."
The American said, "The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it."
"Impossible!" barked the officer. "Americans always have to show their passports on arrival in France."
The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly
explained. "Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in '44 to
help liberate this country, I couldn't find any Frenchmen to show it to."