60th Anniversary Events

60th anniversary festivities of the liberation of Diekirch
Projected events in Diekirch

Supported by the city authorities of Diekirch, the local tourist board, the American-Luxembourg Society and a few other associations, the National Museum of Military History in Diekirch/Luxembourg, has planned several key events to observe and commemorate the 60^th anniversary.  The various projects are presently in the planning cycle and it is intended to have the detailed outline of the various events ready by early 2004. The following is a preliminary and summary description of the three main events that will take place in Diekirch. Please note that all events at this stage are still liable to minor changes. It is also anticipated that there will be a sizeable presence of WWII veterans.

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During the weekend period of November 26-28, 2004, the community of Diekirch will commemorate the November 1944 celebration of "Thanksgiving Day", as experienced then by hundreds of GIs, primarily of the 109^th regiments/28^th U.S. Infantry Division, together with their local Luxembourg friends. The three-fold event is actually built around the diorama at the museum  portraying a U.S. field kitchen catering turkeys, featured in  showroom number 2.

Museum diorama showing two turkeys being prepared traditional style by U.S. field cook of 109th Inf. Rgt / 28th Inf. Division -- the focal point of the November 26-28, 2004 "Thanksgiving Day" event in Diekirch.

60 years ago, "Thanksgiving Day" was hardly known to the Luxembourgers, who had just been liberated by U.S. forces in September 1944. On the other side, the GIs were all in high spirits that "Uncle Sam" had made it possible that turkeys (usually not kept in Luxembourg), arrived fresh from the U.S. and that most of them had their traditional "Thanksgiving Dinner" ... even those on duty on the Our- and Sauer-river defensive line, where hot turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy  and cranberries were supplies in thermocontainers.

To recreate the atmosphere of Thanksgiving Day 1944, the following events are planned:

Schedule of events

Wednesday, November 24, 2004 20h00: Presentation of the audiovisual documentary feature, entitled «My Heroes and their Ladies in waiting» by Linda Stockton (testimonies on the 109th U.S. Inf. Rgt / 28th Infantry Division) in cooperation with the «American-Luxembourg Society», Inner Wheel Club» and "American Women’s Club of Luxembourg" at the festivity hall of the Diekirch high school (tickets can be purchased until November 20 at the Diekirch tourist office "Syndicat d’Initiative"); Tel: (+352) 80 30 23. NB: The proceeds are to enable some American veterans who fought in Luxembourg to participate in some of the 60th anniversary activities.   Friday, November 26, 2004 - ( Diekirch "Al Seeërei" community center ) 18h00: Inauguration of a photo exhibit portraying the "Two liberations of Diekirch 1944-45" 20h30: Commemorative concert by the Luxembourg army band, directed by Lt Col. André Reichling   Saturday, November 27, 2004 - ( Diekirch "Al Seeërei" community center ) 10h00: Re-enactment of a 1944 U.S. military camp and display of historical military vehicles by «28th US Infantry Division reenactment group» of Leuwarden, The Netherlands 13h30: WWII vehicle convoy leaves for a tour of American war memorilas in the neighbourhood of Diekirch 15h00: Lecture on « Fighting on the Siegfried line/Westwall » by German military historian Dr. Horst Rhode Topic: Fighting at the Westwall and Huertgen forest in late fall 1944 and preparations for the surprise attack - German point of view 16h30: Lecture on « The Huertgenwald experience an its aftermath » by U.S. military historian, MG. Wesley Craig , Commanding General, 28th Infantry Division (mechanized), Pennsylvania Army National Guard Topic: The 28th U.S. Infantry Division, Huertgen Forest experience and redeployment to the quiet sector in Luxembourg NB: the two lectures will take place at the Salle de fêtes Centre militaire, Caserne Grand-Duc Jean, Diekirch Admission is free 18h00: Commemorative concert offered by the «28th U.S. Infantry band», Ft. Indiantown Gap/Pennsylvania at the Diekirch "Al Seeërei" community center 19h30: Traditional «Thanksgiving Dinner» (tickets may be purchased from 01.10 – 20.11.2004 at the Diekirch tourist office 21h30: Life entertainment by «Crunch the Band» - Open cash bar   Sunday, November 28, 2004 - ( Diekirch "Al Seeërei" community center ) 10h00-16h00: Display of historical WWII military vehicles 11h30: Morning concert by «Garnisounsmusek» - former Diekirch garrison military band 19h30: Closing concert offered by local philharmonic band of Diekirch

Schedule of events

Wednesday, December 15, 2004 19h00: Commemorative religious service for the all victims of the "Bulge" and World War II at the Diekirch parish church 20h00: Consecutive lectures by German and American military history specialists on thematic aspects related to the "Battle of the Bulge" 1944-45 at the festivity hall of the Diekirch high school – Admission is free - Dr. Dieter Ose : "German Preparations for the Ardennes offensive" - MG. David T. Zabecki, USAREUR : "Failure of allied intelligence and American reaction following the first days of the German surprise attack"   Thursday, December 16, 2004 05h30: Ringing of parish church bells to announce the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the "Battle of the Ardennes/Bulge" – Offering of wreath at the American liberation memorial in community parc (backside of Diekirch city hall) Taps 06h30: Breakfast offered to participants at Diekirch "Al Seeërei" community center

NB: The various individual and simultaneous ceremonies taking place in Belgium and Luxembourg during "Night Vigil", will be followed in turn by a "regional" wreatlaying ceremony at "Schumann Crossroads" near Wiltz at the "National Liberation Memorial" scheduled on December 16, 2004 at 09 :00 a.m.  A closing ceremony for "Night Vigil" will take place around 11:30 at both the Luxembourg-American cemetery in Hamm/Luxembourg and at the "Mardasson" Memorial in Bastogne, Belgium.

NB: Details regarding "Night Vigil" will be available by early 2004 on the AMBA website.

The key event will be the recreation of the construction of a U.S. combat engineer floating bridge and the crossing of the Sure river - hopefully in presence of U.S. veterans of the 5^th Infantry Division. The event is liable to changes depending on the weather conditions (occasional floods !) Let's hope not !

Sauer river crossing diorama. Pontoons like this one will be used by Dutch group of reeanactors to "recreate" the January 18, 1945 Sauer river crossing at Diekirch. Key event will take place (weather conditions permitting! ) on January 22, 2005.

Schedule of events

Tuesday, January 18, 2005 19h00: Commemorative religious service for the all victims of the "Bulge" and World War II at the Diekirch parish church, followed by torch parade through the center of Diekirch to the American liberation memorial at the municipal parc 20h00: Offering of wreath at the memorial in honor of the American liberators of 1945   Saturday, January 22, 2005 Morning: Construction of a floating bridge on the banks of the "Sûre" river at the municipal parc (exit of Diekirch in direction of Ettelbruck) adjacent to the Exhisting foor bridge, by the «5th US Infantry Division "Red Diamond" reenactment group» from Leuwarden, the Netherlands (In case of flood, a section of the bridge will be constructed on the grounds of the Diekirch "Al Seeërei" community center Afternoon: Crossing of the Sûre river by means of the floating bridge by re-enactors in WWII U.S. uniforms, accompanied by veterans (if present), followed by a reception at the Diekirch "Al Seeërei" community center 20h00: Popular fair at the Diekirch "Al Seeërei" community center 22h00: Closing fireworks at municipal parc opposing the community center

For all questions regarding hotel suggestions, transportation, or similar, please contact the:

60th Anniversary of the "Battle of the Bulge"

Philosophy and general concept outline:

The evening of that dark and cold December 15, 1944, thousands of American GIs and British soldiers bedded down in their "foxholes", dugouts and shelters on the "quiet front" sector in the Luxembourg and Belgian Ardennes bordering with Germany. They were tired and cold, dreaming of Christmas with their beloved ones at home and of a sudden end of the war.  They were perhaps all confidant that Germany would soon capitulate or sue for peace.  On the "other" side of the "ghost front", the final German forces that had secretly been put up during the past few months, were quietly shifted under the cover of darkness and the heavily-overcast and damp cloud ceiling to their jump-off lines in their assigned sectors of attack.  All was spookily quiet on the "ghost front". A rude awakening for the American and British soldiers, as well as for the Belgian and Luxembourg inhabitants of the Ardennes, was only hours away....!

The nightmare in the Ardennes began on December 16, 1944 at 05:30 a.m., when the enemy artillery opened up and German troops began crossing rivers and other obstacles on a 130 Km long front comprised between Echternach (Luxembourg) in the south and the Belgian-German border area around Elsenborn-Monschau in the north. This was the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge which would result in ten thousands of victims and countless destroyed and devastated villages and towns.  For all those who survived the "Bulge", that fateful December 16, 1944 was to remain engraved forever in the memory and minds of countless American, British and German soldiers, as well as Belgian and Luxembourg civilians, who as human beings all equally suffered from the effects of battle, hardship and sub-zero climatic conditions.

For years after the end of the war, the survivors and witnesses had tried to forget all those horrors, starting new lives, raising families and rebuilding their destroyed homes and towns.

It took 3 or 4 decades for the "Battle of the Bulge" to be "digested" and brought to collective awareness again, when in December 1984, the first major commemorations were held in the Ardennes in presence of numerous returning veterans.  This was even more true during the observation of the 50 anniversary in 1994/95, where even more American and British veterans, often together with their families, were able to experience on the occasion of countless ceremonies and other events, that the Belgians and Luxembourgers have not forgotten..... It was also during that  50^th anniversary that several "reconciliation" events took place, bringing together former opponents as friends, often arranged by civilians. Ever since that message and spirit has been spreading, with the 60^th anniversary gradually approaching.

The Battle of the Bulge doubtlessly remains a key historic event of destiny and of collective memory uniting five nationalities.  It is their collective duty and responsibility to ensure that the torch of remembrance is passed to future generations and that the sacrifices and victims are never to be forgotten.

The 60^th anniversary of the "Bulge" in December 2004, will doubtlessly be for all of us once more an opportunity to pay tribute to our allied liberators of 1944/45 - both the living and the dead - and to thank them for their contribution to final victory and the restitution of freedom and democracy,.... those values and gifts we all cherish so much today.

It is anticipated that numerous former GIs and British soldiers will return again towards the end of 2004 to the "Ardennes" to pause, reflect, reconciliate, but above all remember their fallen comrades.  Together we should welcome them and their families in gratitude and show them that the collective memory of the "Bulge" is nurtured and will live on.

Aware of that moral obligation and in the context of fostering friendship through collective remembrance, AMBA, the Belgian-Luxembourg association of the museums of the "Bulge", together with its associates (CRIBA, CEBA, U.S. Veterans friends, ONT, OPT) and other temporary partners, has decided in its July 10, 2003 board meeting in Bastogne, to take the lead in the hosting and organization of a meaningful large-scale event in Belgium and Luxembourg on December 15-16, 2004, entitled :

"NIGHT VIGIL 2004"

Generally, "Night Vigil 2004" in the context of the 60^th anniversary of the "Bulge", will consist of the "adoption" and symbolic "guarding" in the evening of December 15, 2004 of a range of American and British memorials in Belgium and Luxembourg, located on the former December 1944 "ghost front" line stretching from Echternach (Luxembourg) to Elsenborn ridge (Belgium) and Hellental and Monschau (Germany).  Special ceremonies, exhibits, and other events will be encouraged, addressing local and regional communities to participate. AMBA's member museums will stay open late that night.... several thematic exhibits and/or other activities in cooperation with WWII vehicle collectors' associations are projected to supplement the "official" events.  In several sectors (as was the case in 1994 in the Luxembourg Ardennes), participants will symbolically "occupy" original positions on the former "1944 front line" - sometimes together with veterans - as a very special way to pay silent tribute to all those who were there during that fateful December 15-16, 1944 night.... and who eventually were to become the first victims several hours later.  Nothing beats being out in the cold and dark to be united in mind with those who fought, suffered and died!

At 05:30 a.m. on December 16, 2004, there will be a series of simultaneous "wreath laying" ceremonies at a number of memorials in the Belgian and Luxembourg Ardennes and the German border areas, announced by church bells ringing.  Visiting veterans will be invited to participate altogether with the local communities in those early-morning ceremonies that will be organized in regional sectors to historically match the American and British key units on the December 1944 "ghost front line".

Local dignitaries will give addresses, early morning church services will be held to remember the victims, there may be torch parades, WWII vehicle convoys and other activities within a dignified and meaningful framework of "Night Vigil 2004".

The entire "Night Vigil 2004" multi-national event will close on December 16, 2004 with two major late morning commemorative ceremonies taking place at the same time at the Bastogne Mardasson Memorial (for the Belgian sector of "Night Vigil 2004") and at the Luxembourg-American Cemetery in Hamm (for Luxembourg) with the participation of veterans and dignitaries.

"Night Vigil 2004" is an ambitious and worthwhile project that AMBA is presently putting together.  A number of AMBA's member associations is already planning together with their respective communities and towns.  Over the coming months, AMBA will further develop the event and encourage additional towns and villages (with memorials), as well as communities and associations that in the past have been active in this field to join "Night Vigil 2004", as this may well be the last occasion for a meaningful large-scale event in the PRESENCE OF VETERANS and WITNESSES of the "Bulge."

In addition to various towns, communities and local tourist boards, AMBA will have the support and active cooperation of several Belgian and Luxembourg WWII vehicle collector's associations, National Liberation Memorial Association, COGGD (former Grand-Ducal Guard Officers' Circle), CAGGD (former Grand Ducal Guards Association), Arlon/Belgium - and Luxembourg chapters of "Cercle Mars et Mercure" (retired and active officers' association), and others.

Based on the 1994 (50^th anniversary of the "Bulge") Night Vigil experience, jointly organized then by COGGD/Mars et Mercure and the Diekirch National Museum of Military History at several key historical and "Bulge"-relevant sites such in Luxembourg, such as: Osweiler, Echternach, Hoesdorf/Wallendorf, Beaufort Ettelbruck, Diekirch, Hoscheid, Clervaux, Wiltz and Schumann Crossroads, AMBA is convinced that "Night Vigil 2004," will be another success.  This is especially true as the projected "Night Vigil 2004", will take place in Belgium and Luxembourg.

The meaningful event remembering the "Bulge" will provide an opportunity for everyone to join in and personally participate in one of the many early morning ceremonies on December 16, 2004 at a venue of his choice.

AMBA is presently contacting additional communities and/or organizations to join the "Night Vigil 2004" effort and leave the initiative for the local hosting of a commemorative event to prospective participant communities. The only criterion is that the December 16, 2004 early morning ceremonies, have to have a dignified character. AMBA would also welcome the participation of the younger generations in the "Night Vigil 2004" ceremonies and interact with veterans who may be present.  That way the "passing of the torch" will be ensured.

Over the coming months, AMBA will develop a more detailed structure of "Night Vigil 2004". The complete project description/agenda of the simultaneous December 15/16, 2004 events and activities, along with a map reference, will be posted towards the end of this year on the AMBA website.  Interim questions and recommendations may be addressed to AMBA at:

Contact addresses

Robert Clam  -  Coordinator AMBA 53, route de Wiltz   B-6600 Bastogne e-mail: robert.clam@skynet.be and   Roland Gaul  -  President AMBA c/o NMMH 10, Bamertal   L-9209 Diekirch e-mail: mnhmdiek@pt.lu