(Pics) : Do Belgians remember the US in the Bulge ? Yes, they do.....

Sitting at breakfast in our auberge in the tiny hamlet of Wanne last Sunday I suddenly noticed a few local people of all ages gathering by the village memorial ( to the villagers lost in both World Wars, including 7 civilians shot by the SS troops ). Then some cars arrived and out climbed some elderly men wearing Belgian berets and carrying standards, followed by a bugler and the local policeman. 'They're veterans' I said 'Of course ! It's May 8th - VE Day...'

Grabbing my camera, I ran outside as the policeman saluted in the road, the bugler sounded the Last Post, the veterans stood to attention, and wreaths were laid...



After a minute of silence, the little group of local people turned and walked across the road to the separate memorial to the men of the 517th PIR....




And there, the little ceremony was repeated, the Stars and Stripes gently rippling in the breeze...







I must admit I found it quite moving. The lady at the auberge explained that this would be repeated at every town and village in the Ardennes.

 

Not only the Ardennes, throughout Europe such ceremonies are hold every V.E.
I was sad I didn't have my camera with me, but I attended a similar event in France with a cortege of reeanactors driving Jeeps , Dodges and Halftracks through the streets with people waving at them. Unfortunately very few surviving Veterans were still able to attend, but the youg generation was there too , also girls dresses as nurses and FFI fighters. A wraith was laid on a RAF grave .

 

I agree with Skipper , All round the Europe You can still find the attachement and the dedication about our liberator and Generaly all the Allied veterans . Every year, With Friends from France, Holland, England, Germany I go to Battle of the Bulge area, Normandy, Memorial Day, July 4th, Grave adoptions ceremony . And I'm never alone . I have thounsands pictures ... If you want ...
Domi

 

Sadly, it all seems to pass virtually unremarked in the UK.

I should explain that I wasn't in any way inferring that only the Belgians remember ; I just found the way in which such a tiny place where I was staying by coincidence produced this simple and moving local ceremony .

 

We have also some ceremonies with few people ... but don't worry , I prefere a ceremony with one personne but very dedicating ... I have some very young relatives ( 14, 17 years old ) from Belgium ( Dutch and French part ), French and Dutch who are very dedicating by this part of our history they are our futur .

 

Some pictures from Belgium



Mr Joe Cicchinelli 551PIB



Memorial Day 2010



Mr Curtis Phillips 4th Inf Div , My Sister, me and friends



Nuts celar, Bastogne , June 2009



Mr Bob Izumi 506PIR and the US Ambassador for Belgium ( White Shirt ) , Nuts ceremony Dec 2010



Ceremony at Rochelinval ( 551PIB area ) , Jan 2011

 

Great pictures! Good to see so many care.

 

With the personne in charge agree, I can put some pictures from different ceremonies ...

 

Go for it, we'll appreciate seeing them

 

I can add to this that in addition to the museum out by the large US memorial outside Bastogne there is also a small private museum inside the town. This is (was?) run by a local citizen who started collecting all kinds of paraphernalias he found after the fighting in the area. It is 12 years since I was there.

Not to mention that they have a Sherman tank positioned in the central plaza - named Place Macauliffe....So, it is remembered.
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You have also the "Nuts" sailor . The original site where Gen McAuliffe told NUTS . It's inside the military camp who is now a part of the Belgium Military Museum . They are some friends of mine who are the personne in charge .
And soon it will have a new museum inside the town dedicating by the 101st Airborne .
Don't forget all the others place because the Battle Of the Bulge it not just Bastogne .

 

Thank you for that information, Sgt. I must visit soon.