65th anniversary of the Bulge in Luxembourg

65th anniversary of the “Bulge” in Luxembourg

December 16, 2009

On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the “Bulge,” the Luxembourg Government had invited 6 US “Bulge” veterans with their spouses to participate in the official, national commemorations that were held on December 16, 2009.

The 6 veterans, members of the overall VBOB (Veterans of the battle of the Bulge” association were:

Lowell H. ANNESS;  248th Engineers, XII Corps
Robert L. CRAGG;  104th Inf Rgt; 26th US Inf. Div
Frank J. FORCINELLA, 2nd Infantry Rgt; 5th US Inf. Div
Norman WASSERMANN ;“B” Battery, 286th FA Observation Bn
George D.WHITTEN; “A” company, 106th Engineer Combat Bn
Herman ZEITCHIK; 42nd FA Bn; 4th Inf. Div

The National Museum of Military history had been asked by the Government to assist with the planning, coordination and and implementation of the overall commemorations and connected-programs.

Thanks to the museum’s volunteers, the veterans and their family members were escorted to the main events and many side programs.
They also visited the museums in Diekirch and Ettelbruck, as well as a number of other sights, memorials and points of interest in Luxembourg.

On December 16, 2009 – the key day of remembrance, a morning ceremony was held at Schumann’s Eck near Wiltz at the “National Liberation Memorial” with the veterans as special guests of honor.  The event was prominently attended by representatives from all walks of life  -- reenactors and vehicle collectors added to the atmosphere. The Luxembourg Government was represented by Minister Marie-Josée Jacobs, the U.S. side by Ms. Maureen Cormack, US Statre Department, who each addressed the attendance prior to offering wreaths.
A original WWII US field kitchen served hot beverages and sandwiches to all attendees after the ceremony.

The ceremony was followed in turn by a further wreath-laying at the American Memorial of Echternach  around noon to recall that the “Bulge” also raged in the eastern parts of Luxembourg. The Luxembourg Government was represented on this occasion by Ministers Octavie Modert and Nico Schmit.

After an official luncheon hosted by the Luxembourg government in honor of the veterans, it was time for a closing event at the Luxembourg American cemetery in Hamm.  It was freezing cold when after the official addresses by Luxembourg Minister of Defense Jean-Marie Halsdorf and Maureen Cormack (US State Department), veteran Robert CRAGG – representing his fellow veterans – spoke.  The 6 veterans thereafter offered a wreath to all their fallen comrades with military honors rendered by US- and Luxembourg army detachments.

During the entire Dec 16, the national Museum of Military History had staged a “living museum” events with reenactors in both US and German WWII uniforms around an original WWII field kitchen catering free hot snacks for all visitors.  As a side event, US veteran Frank Forcinella (5th Infantry Division) met with German veteran Horst Hennig (352 nd Volksgrenadierdivision) at the museum as friends and exchanged many recollections. They were interviewed by RTL television, as they had been facing each other in January 1945 during the Sauer river crossing operations in Diekirch.

go to the picture gallery to see the coverage