Liven The Dream
Gold $$ Contributor
Memorial Day 2023
- Thread starter Liven The Dream
- Start date
Liven The Dream
Gold $$ Contributor
The Story !!
THE SILENCE . . .
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 and 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, first played in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of Holland's liberation. It's been the concluding piece of the memorial concert ever since.
The year is 2014. The soloist is 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.
THE SILENCE . . .
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 and 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, first played in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of Holland's liberation. It's been the concluding piece of the memorial concert ever since.
The year is 2014. The soloist is 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.
Today is a day that most will enjoy a family gathering with good food, good drink, and good conversation. That is all good.
However, let us not forget the reason for this holiday - remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price so that we may enjoy these family gatherings that our freedom provides.
Freedom has a price, they along with all who served paid it for us.
However, let us not forget the reason for this holiday - remembrance of those who paid the ultimate price so that we may enjoy these family gatherings that our freedom provides.
Freedom has a price, they along with all who served paid it for us.
WE Must Never Forget. Tommy Mc Vet.1966 to 1994, First Sargent Ret.Unietd States Army..
Retired shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
For all of Brothers, some paid the ultimate price, others paid a huge price, physically, and mentally, to all that served, a simple THANK YOU, will never be enough, and please do not forget the family members, as they also know the price of freedom .
Thank you my fellow brethren.!
Thank you my fellow brethren.!
Uncle Mike
Gold $$ Contributor
That reminds me of my daughter playing "echo" taps with her grandfather, my father-in-law when she was about that age. At our local cemetery on Memorial Day near forty years ago. It brought tears to my eyes then as your post did today. Thank you for the memory. God bless our fallen soldiers.
I did not know this story. Thank you for posting it.
Xerothermic
Silver $$ Contributor
Nice. Thanks. for posting.
This is the Detroit Firemen’s Fund plot in Mt. Elliot Cemetery, Detroit. I’ll be marching there tomorrow in Memorial Services that pre-dates Memorial Day and the Civil War. Two firemen, Bob Pepper and Bruce Currie, play Taps and Echo, with one down in the valley of Parent Creek on the left side of the picture. It tugs at my heart strings every time they do that. There are over 150 firemen killed in duty at this plot and just about the same number at Elmwood Cemetery right next door. The march from Engine Seven to the cemetery is a nice one with the D.F.D. leading the way and the Windsor, Ontario F.D. band right behind with the bagpipes followed by uniformed firemen followed by we old retired guys. Anyway. I’ll be there.
Attachments
We must never forget all who gave it all in the past, and in the present and future who sacrificed and still are for our freedom. God Bless Them All.
Thank you for telling us about what the wonderfull Dutch people are doing for all of the fallen soldiers. Often I think about how many lives were lost in wars. Wars are started by the politicians not the people. I was lucky to return from Vietnam. I only had a couple close ones.
jackieschmidt
Gold $$ Contributor
We must never forget the brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our freedoms and the preservation of The United States of America.
Samuel Hill, an American who died serving with the New Zealand Infantry, WW1
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