Memorial Day

Myself | 5/23/2020 | Peter W. Kessler

[Peter W. Kessler]

Just a few thoughts on Memorial Day Weekend

[Peter W. Kessler]

There is an American Cemetery in Margraten, Holland that is unlike any American Cemetery in the world. Each one of the graves, and every name on the "Wall of the Missing," has been adopted by a Dutch family. The U.S. and Holland observe Memorial Day on the same day. On Monday, the cemetery will be awash in flowers, as each of the adopters will visit, with their families, to place flowers at the grave of their adopted soldier. Most of the adopted graves have been passed down from generation to generation since 1945. Here's a video my friends might enjoy: https://www.adoptiegraven-margraten.nl/en/

Another unique feature of the cemetery is the annual "Concert for the Liberation." I was privileged to attend this concert a few years ago. It is held in the cemetery, and thousands of people attend. The concert commemorates the liberation of Maastricht and Margraten. I arrived early, and listened to the orchestra and choir warming up. When they played the Dutch and American National Anthems, I knew I had to record them when they opened the concert. Then, the announcer told the audience that video / audio recording was prohibited. So I refrained from doing so. I will regret that for the rest of my life.

On this Memorial Day weekend, please take a little time to remember the sacrifice of young men and women who never got the chance to grow older so that we could have that right.

(Note: I haven't posted a photo on FR for years, and referred to the HTML Sandbox for guidance. I probably got the size wrong.)

[Peter W. Kessler]

Sure enough, the link didn’t heat up. Here’s another attempt:

https://www.adoptiegraven-margraten.nl/en/

[Laslo Fripp]

The photo came out fine. Poignant.

You done good 😀

[frank ballenger]

So many died and left loved ones to mourn.

We cannot allow their sacrifice to be swept aside by the evil leftist news media and the Dems. This is now our responsibility.

We must fight.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Beautiful. Wow Holland?

Thank you.

[caww]

[stevio]

Canceled Kutztown Pa’s parade. Was a tradition for us. God bless the men and women who died for this nation. Let us remember freedom isn’t free as we are finding out.

[Peter W. Kessler]

To attend the Concert for Liberation, I drove from Bastogne, Belgium to Margraten, about an hour and a half. I drove through the thickest, heaviest fog I’ve ever seen. I arrived at the cemetery very early (had a great talk with the Superintendent about the history curriculum in Dutch schools!), the set off with my camera. That’s where the photo came from. The sun came out just as the conductor raised his baton, and it was a beautiful day!

[Right Wing Assault]

I've seen ads that wish me "Happy Memorial Day!"

I'm sure her Memorial Day isn't "Happy."

[oh8eleven]

Not a problem. Thanks for posting ...

[Peter W. Kessler]

Is that the Cemetery at Henri Chappelle?

[oh8eleven]

Margraten, the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial

[Peter W. Kessler]

Wow! I never saw it from that angle! Henri Chappelle has a similar tower, I think (it’s been a few years).

Thanks!

[Peter W. Kessler]

Pinging per your request!

[Gene Eric]

>> I probably got the size wrong

Perfectly sized to the attention it deserves.

[Peter W. Kessler]

As an addendum, I’m linking to footage from the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA (https://www.dday.org):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3_no9DK5KU

[Peter W. Kessler]

And a ping to MinuteGal!

[MinuteGal]

These videos in post # 16 are worth watching. In the one that depicts the D-Day Memorial in Virginia, note the symbolism...the structure into the pool that looks like a landing craft exit, small utility and meeting buildings that look like Quonset huts.

Closely note also the sculpture of our GIs breaching the ramparts, some dying, the one at the top defiantly waving his rifle....the impact to the viewer is palpable.

I didn't even know this Memorial existed. Watch it and feel a great pleasure. Even the surrounding landscape is so breathtakingly beautiful.

Leni

[Liz]

Thanks for your astute observations.......a poignant vid.

Anther powerful D-Day story———

The US military high command knew the Germans would be bunkered somewhere above the beach figuring Americans would attack by sea.

Several US reconnaissance flights went out, blasting areas above the beach——unfortunately they missed the German bunkers.

[Peter W. Kessler]

From Wikepedia:

The “Bedford Boys” and the Location of the Memorial

Thirty-four Virginia National Guard soldiers from the town of Bedford were part of D-Day. Nineteen of them were killed during the first day of the invasion, and four more died during the rest of the Normandy campaign. The town and the “Bedford Boys” had proportionately suffered the greatest losses of the campaign, thus inspiring the United States Congress to establish the D-Day memorial in Bedford.[3][4]

The Bedford Boys included three sets of brothers: twins Roy and Ray Stevens, with Ray killed during the landing while Roy survived, Clyde and Jack Powers, with Jack killed and Clyde wounded but surviving, and Bedford and Raymond Hoback, both killed.[5] The losses by the soldiers from Bedford were chronicled in the best-selling book The Bedford Boys by Alex Kershaw, and helped inspire the movie Saving Private Ryan.[6] The movie’s director, Steven Spielberg, helped fund the memorial, including funding for the creation of the Arnold M. Spielberg Theater, in honor of his father, a World War II veteran.[7]

The Memorial receives no federal funds for its operation or construction. Funding comes from several corporate donors and many, many individuals.

I highly recommend “The Bedford Boys,” by Alex Kershaw. Alex speaks at the WWII Conference / Symposium at the WWII Museum in New Orleans every year. Here’s his lecture from 2019: https://www.c-span.org/video/?466481-5/allied-soldiers-day Since the 76th Anniversary of D-Day is coming up, Mr. Kershaw tells stories of the first soldiers to land in France on 6/6/44.