Day Four: Remember the Fallen

Yesterday when we were given a briefing for today’s plans, we knew it was going to be another busy day. We left after another great breakfast and set off to Liege, Belgium to the Ardennes Cemetery. This cemetery has about 5,300 graves of soldiers many of whom fought on the northern border of the Bulge.

Upon our arrival, we were greeted and assisted by an employee of the grounds. He helped us and our veterans by searching through all the names of the fallen who rest in the Ardennes Cemetery and printing out the names connected to each veteran’s division, allowing each veteran to seek out any lost comrades. Just seeing the vast amount of graves was sobering especially when one of the veterans would find someone who had been close to them. Even more sobering is the fact that more than 700 soldiers’ remains are in the cemetery, yet to be identified.

Following the Ardennes Cemetery, we proceeded to Malmedy, where we returned to the Baugnez 44 Historical Center in celebration of the opening of their museum and the 65th Commemoration of the Malmedy Massacre. Over 90 American POWs and Belgian citizens were massacred by the SS Panzer Division here. Each year for the first fifty years a commemoration has been held at the center of this site. As our veterans were once again front and center, we witnessed a touching ceremony where we were amazed, as so many times before on this trip, by the citizens’ deep gratitude for the service of those who fought in World War II.

In memory of those who lost their lives, white balloons were released at the service by the youth of the community. Belgians holding their nation’s flag, as well as our own American Color Guard, proudly displayed national colors, and afterwards one of our veterans, Jacob “Brian” Sperry, placed a wreath on a commemorative stone. Local clergy prayed for peace and after the service ended, we all headed back to the museum as guests of honor at a celebratory gathering. Everyone came up to our veterans to thank them and to take their pictures or to get their autographs. Among the attendants were not only civilians, but also some of our own American military, including Col. Michael P. Saulnier, Commander of Headquarters Support Group at NATO.

After the celebratory gathering, we headed to Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. This cemetery holds over 7,000 men who fought in the Ardennes. While at this cemetery we laid a wreath for a friend of one of the students in the group. After laying the wreath and a moment of silence, we continued on to find comrades of one of our veterans. We were there at dusk and the winter weather was setting in. Most of the veterans went inside after the wreath-laying because the wind was bitter cold. It is so hard to imagine these men living day in and day out during their service here.

Since the dark was moving in, we did not stay long at Henri-Chapelle Cemetery. We headed to the town of Eupen in search of a place that could serve 25 people. This was difficult because Eupen’s Christmas Market was heavily attended and all the restaurants were packed. We finally stumbled upon an authentic Turkish restaurant where we eagerly consumed gyros. Afterwards we got to do some shopping in the market. As another day ends, we can only imagine what tomorrow holds for us. Every day so far has been saturated with history and it’s hard for us to absorb it all. Traveling with these veterans is giving us the opportunity to live and breathe history with the men who have actually lived it, and being a participant is an unbelievable experience.

Victoria and Liliana