Posted on 05/24/2013 6:27:34 PM PDT by Jerrybob
USA Cemeteries in Europe
http://battlestory.org/index.php?p=1_67_USA-CEMETERIES-IN-EUROPE
I have been to the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach twice. It is an awe inspiring place.
My daughter walked on the beach and brought a rock to her Army Captain husband.
God Bless our troops and their families
Visited an Allied cemetery in Berlin. Mostly air crews. One grave held the aircrew from one British aircraft.
One of the names on the headstone was my last name. Another name was my wife’s maiden name. It was definitely a spooky feeling seeing that.
Just finished “The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany”
Written by Stephen Ambrose, amazing what we (they) did back then...the people of America at its finest...
I’ve been to the cemeteries in Luxembourg and Normandy. Multiple times. Awesome places.
Though one doesn’t need to go to those places to honor our fallen. This Monday I will spend some time at the local VA cemetery.
Gen. George Patton is buried in cemetery in Luxembourg. The American cemetery there is well tended; there is an appreciation for the Americans who helped liberate the country.
On a trip to Paris in 1985 I went to Belleau Woods cemetary. The caretaker said everyone has been respectful, even the Germans when they occupied France in WW2.
Our cemeteries in Europe are awe inspiring. Staring at the sea of crosses trying to comprehend the loss is incredibly humbling. I was blessed to visit most of them and each of them left a lasting impression of the sacrifice our nation made to defeat fascism. I would also be remiss if I did not compliment the folks that maintain them. They are beautiful and they clearly work hard to keep them that way.
Thread Bump.
The cemetery is maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission. I have been told that the operation of each of the 24 overseas cemeteries is overseen by a retired senior NCO. In the case of Luxembourg he is a retired Army CSM, or was lst time I was there 4 years ago.
Just a couple miles down the road from Luxembourg is a German military cemetery. Totally different feel.
Thanks for the tip. I'll have to get that.
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.