Something to remember for Memorial Day

Something to remember for Memorial Day.

France has the greatest American sacrifice of 46,511 buried on their soil

Belguim as 13,689 Americans buried on their soil

England has 4,280 Americans buried on their soil

Italy has 12,263 Americans buried on their soil

Luxumberg has 5,076 Americans buried on their soil

Argone has 14,246 Americans buried on their soil

Netherlands has 8,301 Americans buried on their soil

 

All these countries Americans fought and died for expecting no recompense,

nor did we "conquer and take land from any of these countries"

All was done to free people from Tyrany and to make them free.

 

 

The Silence

 

About 6 miles from Maastricht, in the Netherlands, lie 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 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 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.  LISTEN WITH THE SOUND UP