I have known and worked with some Dutch men younger than I, and I can vouch for the truth of the following based on what they told me: A moving tribute - about six miles from Maastricht, in the Netherlands, lie buried 8,301 American soldiers who died in Operation Market Garden in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall/winter of 1944. Every one of the men buried in the cemetery, as well as those in the Canadian and British military cemeteries, has been adopted by a Dutch family who mind the grave, decorate it, and keep alive the memory of the soldier they have adopted. It is even the custom to keep a portrait of their American soldier in a place of honor in their home. Annually, on Liberation Day, memorial services are held for the men who died to liberate Holland. The day concludes with a concert. The final piece is always Il Silenzio, a memorial piece commissioned by the Dutch and first played in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of Hollands liberation. It has been the concluding piece of the memorial concert ever since. This year the soloist was a 13-year-old Dutchgirl, Melissa Venema, backed by André Rieuand his orchestra (the Royal Orchestra of the Netherlands). This beautiful concert piece is based upon the original version of taps and was composed by Italian composer Nino Rossi. Our European arrogance, in alphabetical order 1. The American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne, France... A total of 2289 2. The American Cemetery at Ardennes, Belgium... A total of 5329 3. The American Cemetery at Brittany, France... A total of 4410 4. Brookwood, England - American Cemetery... A total of 468 5. Cambridge, England... A total of 3812 6. Epinal, France - American Cemetery... A total of 5525 7. Flanders Field, Belgium... A total of 368 8. Florence, Italy... A total of 4402 9. Henri-Chapelle, Belgium... A total of 7992 10. Lorraine , France... A total of 10,489 11. Luxembourg, Luxembourg... A total of 5076 12. Meuse-Argonne... A total of 14,246 13. Netherlands, Netherlands... A total of 8301 14. Normandy, France... A total of 938 15. Oise-Aisne, France... A total of 6012 16. Rhone, France... A total of 861 17. Sicily, Italy... A total of 7861 18. Somme, France... A total of 1844 19. St. Mihiel, France... A total of 4153 20. Suresnes, France... A total of 1541 The count is 104,366 dead, brave Americans.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 22:01:20 +0000
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