Due to the small number of participants of OT2008, the programme was adjusted
after consulting our American member of the board, Joe Bossi. Instead of only
concentrating on the Operation Market Garden area and Bastogne, we also
visited Normandy.On Friday September 12th, our guests were welcomed in Molenhoek, near Nijmegen (82nd Airborne area) by several members of the Foundation and sponsors. It became an intimate and fun evening yet we couldn't help but miss that special atmosphere of the party in WWII-style of years gone by!
Saturday 13th was reserved for travel to Normandy, where we arrived in time to join
our treasurer Frits Janssen, for dinner. Sunday and Monday were filled to the brim with museum visits and different sites of interest.
Click image for more picturesOn Tuesday, we took our time, picknicking along the way, to return to The Netherlands
where we checked into Hotel La Sonnerie in Son (former HQ of General Taylor).
Wednesday September 17th we visited the museum in Overloon.
Click Image for more picturesEarly afternoon we enjoyed a Chinese meal with a few members of the
Airborne Committee in Eerde, WWII veteran Ray Nagell and his wife Helen with their hosts, Vietnam veteran Brad Nichols with his brother Gary and their host.After dinner the memorial ceremony was attended at the 501 Geronimo monument in
Eerde where Joseph M. Bossi with his son Joey laid flowers on behalf of the Foundation.It goes without saying that we were welcomed for the usual coffee afterwards by the
Eerde Windmill Foundation!
Click image for more picturesThursday September 18th was, of course, reserved for Eindhoven. During the afternoon,
the Young Dutch Veterans welcomed us and our guests Brad and Gary Nichols,
WWII veteran Robert Wright with his son in their Veterans House in Eindhoven in order
to be present for the opening of their exhibition on "Eindhoven during WWII".
Click image for more pictures at the VeteranshouseThe beautiful 101st Airborne Division flag which was presented to the Foundation is part
of the temperary exhibition. It was taken down, however, for the evening parade, together
with the new 506th Infantry Regiment flag.Joe and Joey Bossi where invited by the 18th September Committee to carry these flags in
the evening parade in order to form an honor guard for the torch with which the WWII
monument in the town square is lit during the commemmoration ceremony. Joe and Joey
marched in the parade dressed in WWII uniforms depicting the original liberators of Eindhoven of the 101st Airborne Division.
Click image for more pictures of the paradeFurthermore, Brad Nichols was asked by the city of Eindhoven to carry the colors of the
Federation of the Former Dutch Resistance. Quite an honor, which Brad experienced as such. In Brad's place, his brother Gary, himself an Army veteran, carried the flag honoring
ALL American WWII veterans. Chairman Petra Wenstedt-Pulles and secretary Leoni Wenstedt accompanied Gary in their ACU jackets to symbolize the special bond between the people of Eindhoven and the 101st Airborne Division as, at this very moment, Dutch soldiers are attached to the 506th Infantry Regiment in Afghanistan.WWII veteran (501 PIR, medic) Robert Wright and his son, in the meantime, were hosted by Club Wheels to ride in the parade in one of their WWII vehicles. Needless to say that Robert enjoyed the ride tremendously, as well as the attention given to him by Mayor
Rob van Gijzel during the reception in the city hall afterwards.
A reporter of the Eindhoven newspaper interviewed Brad, Robert and Petra that evening and even correctly reproduced their words.
All in all, an enervating day which was closed by returning the Division Flag to the Veterans House.
Friday September 19th we left for Bastogne, accompanied by two lovely young ladies. Our goal was attending a military fair organised by Frank Slegers and Marco Kilian from Militaria Bastogne SPRL. Although unusual for the Foundation, we combined work with pleasure at the military fair. The goal was to promote the Foundation and generate some funds as well. Everyone enjoyed themselves - customers and salesmen alike!!
Click image for more pictures of the fairSaturdaynight we enjoyed an impromptu organised dinner with a number of friends and sponsors at Le Nuts Restaurant on MacAuliffe square in Bastogne.
Click image for more dinnerpicturesBecause of the busy weekend and long days, Monday September 22nd was a welcome day of rest. In conclusion, the typical Dutch village ZAANSE SCHANS and Amsterdam were visited on Tuesday. Time to buy the last souvenirs for the home front before departure on Tuesday.
Click image to see more of AmsterdamA successfull trip with fun, exciting and emotional experiences.
Different, but an Operation Torch trip nonetheless, with two goals in mind:REMEMBERING THE SACRIFICE
and
KEEPING THE MEMORY ALIVE
