Today we had a tour guide who took us through the following sites and memorials this morning:
- Star-shaped Mardassen Memorial
- Ardennes Forrest Fox Holes
- The American Memorial Cemetery in Hamm & General Patton's grave
- Bastogne Barracks
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| Our tour guide today |
Star-shaped Mardassen Memorial - Belgium:
The Mardassen monument, named after the hill it sits on top of, is a massive, star-shaped structure measuring over 13 yards high and nearly 34 yards in diameter. The memorial honors the sacrifices of more than 75,000 U.S. Soldiers who were wounded or killed during the Battle of the Bulge, the deadliest battle in U.S. Army history. The star shape symbolizes freedom.
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| Star-shaped Mardassen Memorial |
The outer columns list every major American unit that fought in the Battle of the Bulge. The inner columns tell the story of the battle in detail.
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| Group photo above our state (Photo by Parent Stuart Rich) |
At the center of the entire monument is a plague in Latin, which translates to “THE PEOPLE OF BELGIUM REMEMBER THEIR AMERICAN LIBERATORS 4 7 1946”.
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| Inner walls of the Mardassen Memorial |
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| Mosaic Crypt |
Unfortunately, the nearby museum was closed so we were not able to visit it this time.
Ardennes Forrest Fox Holes:
We walked through the Ardennes Forrest where the Easy Company set up their fox holes. Some of the fox holes were pretty deep. It's hard to imagine how the soldiers could withstand the weather out here. We know that they were not well-equipped for the weather conditions. One of the students (Daniel's) Grandfather was in the Easy Company division so this site was of particular importance to him.
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| Our group at the Ardennes Forrest fox Holes |
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| Easy Company Fox hole |
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| Easy Company Fox hole |
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| Taking pictures of the thick woods across from Easy Companies Fox Holes |
Luxembourg American Cemetery & Memorial & General Patton's Grave:
The gate entrance to the Cemetery and Memorial has wrought iron and gilded laurel wreaths, which is the ancient award for valor. Gilded eagles surmount the stone pillars of the entrance as well.
Tablets of the missing soldiers are displayed with the names of the 371 missing in action. the remains of these soldiers and airmen were never recovered or they rest in unknown graves. When they are finally identified, a star is placed next to their name.
The grave of General George S. Patton Jr., Commander of the Third U.S. Army, lies between the two flagpoles in front of the Memorial and overlooking the graves area. Typically a General is buried with his soldiers, however, so many people came to visit Patton's grave that they had to move the location to the front because the grass would not grow back in his old location.
There are two fountains that overlook three jet pools on descending levels. Bronze dolphins and turtles are in the pools that symbolize resurrection and everlasting life.
The inside Chapel Ceiling displays a colorful mosaic depicting the Holy Spirit as a dove on a cloud held by four angels.
Stones are laid on top of grave stones to symbolize that someone has visited the deceased. This is a Jewish tradition.
We had an opportunity to visit the Bastone Barracks and Cemetery. The Bastone Barracks were facinating as they had a collection of all types of military clothing, weaponry, mess kits, medical supplies etc. There is also a Vehicle Restoration Center Museum located on the premises.
During the Battle of the Bulge, Bastogne was an area that the Americans had to defend at all costs. German troops circled Bastogne and demanded surrender. The short but powerful statement that General Anthony McAuliffe answers to the German troops, "nuts" , becomes a turning point in the Battle of the Bulge.
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| Recognized Nurse Renee LeMarie-Galee |
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| Nurse Renee LeMarie-Galee |
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| Christmas Dinner |
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| Grenades |
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| Cameras |
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| Blood and Plasma Samples |
Military Restoration Center Museum:
