Dutch respect for our fallen

[ebb]

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" soldier in a place of honour 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 Holland's liberation. It has been the concluding piece of the memorial concert ever since.

This year the soloist was a 13-year-old Dutch girl, Melissa Venema, backed by André Rieu and 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.

Wait until the last note is reached ..

https://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa-venema.htm

[lancem]

A very moving piece.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Beautiful. Thank you for posting this.

DG

[jonp]

My bucket list is short. Visit every Overseas Cemetery for our fallen from Tunisia to The Philippines and place a Flag

http://www.dillsborolegion.org/usmilcemeteries.htm

[armoredman]

That was intense, wonderful.

[JRLesan]

Il Silenzio was the sign off for WLS back in the '60's... Also heard it at (near)n the beginiing of CE's 'American Sniper'.

[Omega]

That was very well done for a girl that young, heck of any age really.
It's a shame that some foreign countries show more respect for our fallen than we do here though.

[MrWolf]

That was very well done for a girl that young, heck of any age really.
It's a shame that some foreign countries show more respect for our fallen than we do here though.

My thoughts exactly. Thanks for posting the link.

[BLAHUT]

That was very well done for a girl that young, heck of any age really.
It's a shame that some foreign countries show more respect for our fallen than we do here though.

YES; And thank you for sharing.

[WRideout]

My uncle Francis Randall is buried at Margraten in the Netherlands. The Dutch have Remembrance day there every year. My kids have been to his grave, although I have not. The Dutch have a deep appreciation for the sacrifice of American soldiers during WWII.

Wayne

[10x]

That was very well done for a girl that young, heck of any age really.
It's a shame that some foreign countries show more respect for our fallen than we do here though.

I coffee with older fellow who was 5 years old when the Germans occupied Holland. His family moved from the house to the barn while the German soldiers billeted in the house.
They were marched out of the house at the point of bayonets. They ate every animal on the farm including the laying hens.
Folks who did not "welcome" the occupation were taken to a field and shot - this adjusted attitude, hospitality, and generosity.
The allied soldiers who kicked the Germans out of Holland brought food and only asked for enough ground to bury their dead.

[Rich/WIS]

Been a long while since I read the story so a litle hazy on particulars. Fellow who had a business in NJ was at work when his secretary came in and informed him that an Army Captain and an Army Chaplain wanted to see him. He said he knew immediately that his older brother who was MIA in WWII had been found. The Dutch were reclaiming land from the sea and when draining the reclaimed area had found a US fighter with the pilots remains inside. The Army needed to know if he wanted the remains returned to the US or buried overseas. Either way the Dutch would pay all costs involved as they felt it that it was their responsibilty to someone who sacrificed their life to free their nation.

[pworley1]

Thanks for posting. Very moving.

[ebb]

Sargent Garland Collier from Texas was killed in market garden and was discovered recently, and returned to Texas this week and buried next to his parents.

[45workhorse]

That was very well done for a girl that young, heck of any age really.
It's a shame that some foreign countries show more respect for our fallen than we do here though.

Agree 100%. Love of God, Patriotism, and country. Just not taught in all schools, like it should be.

[jaysouth]

In 1966, I was in the 8th Division in Germany. Every year the unit formed up a marching unit of 30-50 men who marched from Bad Kruznach, Germany to Nejmegan, The Netherlands for the Neijmegan marches. Marching through Germany, the locals paid us no attention. When we crossed the dutch border we were greeted at every village and town with flowers and bottles of beer and wine. The Dutch have re-enactment groups portraying American Paratroop units. Their uniforms and equipment are the most period correct of any WWII reenactiment group I have ever seen, down to the unfiltered Camel and Lucky Strike cigarettes they smoked.

Here is a link to the Nijmegan March held every year: https://www.bing.com/search?q=nijmeg...ANNTA1&PC=HCTS

[eastbank]

at 79 years of age and seeing things in sea, not much brings tears to my eyes/. BUT THAT DID, thanks for posting it.

[white eagle]

beautiful