Outdoor Adventure USA

How the Dutch People still honor American war Heroes who helped liberate them during WWII


We celebrated Memorial Day, Flag Day, and the 4th of July recently and I though I would share two ways that the Dutch people honor the American's who help liberate them during WWII.

A little background: My wife and I took a Viking Cruise earlier this year that included guided tours of visited towns. In several towns when our tour guides found out there were Americans on the tour, several of them made it a point to tell us how appreciative they were for America liberating them from the Nazi's. Most of these tour guides were 3rd generation removed from the war. I was surprised by this and humbled at the same time that people though so highly of the US.

In the town of Nijmegen the guide told us about a nighty procession across a bridge in honor of the 48 82nd Airborne soldiers who died on the bridge. Again this surprised me so much that I did a little research and found the below articles.

The first article is how the 48 Airborne soldiers are honored. And the second article is how the Dutch are adopting Soldiers graves in the Netherlands American Cemetery and looking for descendants so the Dutch can put a faces to the Soldiers graves.

1st Article

https://www.sunsetmarch.nl/en/welcome/

2nd Article

https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/ameri ... oject-dutc

With everything going on right now it's rewarding knowing that the US is still appreciated and highly thought of in some parts of the world.

Phil

A very touching and refreshing thing to find these days. Our country has lost many soldiers in the defense of other countries and contempt (way too often), is all the thanks we get. Knowing that there are some who genuinely appreciate our sacrifices, sort of renews the willingness to continue to help others, sort of. Thanks Phil for that insight into the Dutch people, they have my deep respect.

Great share Phil. After a career of 25-years, 15 active duty and 10 more with the CA Army National Guard and 20-years of that 25 on Airborne status, I approve this message! There are some bastions of people who appreciate our Nation's rugged individualism and hardiness and support what that meant when the going got tough.