Thank you for posting the President’s proclamation.
I extract what I consider a key sentence: “ From Elsenborn Ridge and Clervaux to the critical road junctions of St. Vith and Bastogne, Americans fought furiously to slow the Nazi advances....”
While the great majority who think of the Battle of the Bulge, identify it with the encircled 101st Airborne Div at Bastogne, it was the critical holding of other locations that proved the key to delaying the initial German attack that undid the entire offensive. Elsenborn Ridge, Clervaux, St. Vith in the center of the Bulge and on the north shoulder were just as heroic stands, but not as well remembered.
Elsenborn Ridge really broke the back of the offensive. From that point the offensive was canalized away from the planned route and really had no clear path to Antwerp. Even Liege was doubtful.