Thank you, Belgium!
Thanks for the pings, Calpernia and Valin!
Posted on 12/19/2004 8:26:30 AM PST by knighthawk
Battle of the Bulge survivors return to parades and applause on a cold, wintry day
BASTOGNE, Belgium -- Amid snow flurries and a chilling wind, Belgium's King Albert II honored U.S. soldiers who died fighting Nazi Germany 60 years ago in the Battle of the Bulge, the largest land battle for American forces in the war.
Veterans from across the United States returned Saturday to find this market town covered in snow and buffeted by wind -- much as it was during that bitterly cold December in 1944.
The old soldiers, wearing military berets and caps, were greeted with warm applause, hugs and kisses from a grateful crowd that lined the streets.
"I'm very happy to see so many people come out for this event," said Miasy Dumont, 68, of nearby Ludelange, Luxembourg. "This is the last time, I'm sure. In 10 years, there will be no more veterans."
The king, joined by U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., led a commemoration and laid wreaths at the vast Mardasson memorial on the edge of town. The ceremony paid homage to the 19,000 American soldiers killed and about 61,000 wounded in the largest land battle for U.S. forces in World War II. About 100,000 Germans were killed or seriously wounded.
"All soldiers memorialized at this monument are part of the greatest generation," said U.S. Gen. James L. Jones, supreme allied commander in Europe.
After the half-hour ceremony, which included a U.S. honor guard from the 101st Airborne Division from Fort Campbell, Ky., veterans were driven by bus from the towering memorial back to the center of town.
Once there, they again enjoyed warm applause from crowds lining the main street to the town square and attended a sound and light show and a parade of World War II vehicles.
The day began with a parade of veterans, marching bands and World War II-era jeeps, trucks and ambulances through Bastogne. The vehicles rumbled past the town's central square, named for Anthony McAuliffe, the acting commander of the 101st Airborne Division, whose paratroopers repulsed repeated attacks.
On Dec. 22, 1944, McAuliffe was given two hours to surrender by the Germans or face "total annihilation." His now-famous reply: "Nuts!"
A commemorative throwing of nuts was to take place at the square.
There were guided walks along the defensive perimeter south of Bastogne that was relieved by Gen. George S. Patton's Third Army, which rushed north from France to help defeat the Germans. The battle raged for nearly six weeks across the Ardennes hills of southern Belgium and Luxembourg, but the market town of 14,000 bore the brunt of the fighting.
"The American veterans who have returned 60 years later to the battle site represent those who gave their lives on our soil so that today we can live free," Bastogne Mayor Philippe Collard said in French at a memorial honoring Patton.
He added in English: "We will never forget. You are home here."
Sixty years ago, the valleys, trout streams and rolling hills of the Ardennes highlands were the scene of Adolf Hitler's last gamble. His panzer divisions smashed through the forests, catching the Allies by surprise and driving the front westward in a bulge that ran deep into Belgian territory -- before the Allies counterattacked and the Germans were repulsed.
The battle, which lasted from Dec. 16, 1944, to Jan. 25, 1945, drew in more than a million troops -- 600,000 Germans, 500,000 Americans and 55,000 Britons.
Thanks for posting this knighthawk!
Ping for Belgium Honoring Our WWII Veterans!
Total BS on the part of belgium trying to mend cross-atlantic relations.
Good, Honorable and Brave American Men, everyone!!
Well the Belgians will not have to worry about Honoring Americans in the future, because we will not send anymore of our fine American Men and Women to save their Sorry ASSES anymore!
One step at a time. I haven't been happy with Belgium in a long time. However, they should honor our Veterans. That's the least they could do.
Screw you Belgium! We need or want NOTHING from you except to get the HELL out of the way!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1304508/posts
Town of Bastogne gathers to remember its American liberators
This one is a nice read.
I think countries like Belgium and France not supporting the US invasion of Iraq.
WWII Veterans ~ Bump!
Real Classy Reply.
/sarcasm
Foxhole Ping
Some people just have no class.
Thanks for the ping Valin.
bump!
Thank you, Belgium!
Thanks for the pings, Calpernia and Valin!
Thanks for the ping!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.