HEART WARMING

Laufen zum Ziel · 01-25-14, 09:23 PM

Thank you for remembering Holand
The Silence

About six miles from Maastricht. in the Netherlands lie buried 8,301 American soldiers who died in "Operation Market Garden" in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall and winter of 1944-5. Everyone of the men buried 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, 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.

http://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa-venema.

Sailor Steve · 01-25-14, 09:33 PM

Beautiful. I was unaware of this story, and find it very moving. The girl was great, and I loved the look the conductor gave her as the signal to start.

Just great.

Laufen zum Ziel · 01-25-14, 09:35 PM

She could have been an angel.

AVGWarhawk · 01-25-14, 11:36 PM

Touching, moving, beautiful....

Lionclaw · 01-26-14, 03:53 AM

Indeed.

Tchocky · 01-26-14, 06:13 AM

I was there for Liberation Day last year, a beautiful service.

Wolferz · 01-26-14, 07:58 AM

BRAVO!

u crank · 01-26-14, 08:12 AM

Well that made me cry. Touching indeed.

Canada has a very close relationship with the Netherlands that started in WW2. 5,706 Canadian soldiers and airmen were killed in the liberation of Holland. Most are buried in cemeteries in Holland. The Dutch royal family took refuge in Canada during the war and Princess Margriet was born in Ottawa.

The Dutch are very grateful for their liberation.

Thanks for the post Laufen zum Ziel.

BrucePartington · 01-26-14, 08:48 AM

I've seen this before, but didn't know the story behind it.
This post made my day. Very moving.

Every time I see a documentary or play a theme related video game I cannot do it without thinking of all those who have fallen without seeing the day the war ended.

Here's to peace at the end of WWII, and to all who have fallen because of the whim of a mad man.

Thank you for sharing. And thank you Holland.

Jimbuna · 01-26-14, 01:23 PM

Very moving

I witnessed children tending graves on an individual basis whilst living in Holland and my father (who was visiting me at the time) was deeply touched.

vienna · 01-26-14, 06:24 PM

THe Dutch have proven themselves to be, indeed, a world class nation...

Buddahaid · 01-27-14, 01:43 AM

That was just beyond words. I'm still awed.

KrazyDimondRX · 01-27-14, 01:54 AM

"Everyone of the men buried 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, and keep alive the memory of the soldier they have adopted."

One of the coolest, most humbling thing i've ever heard

Platapus · 01-27-14, 07:18 PM

Yeah, this big tough vet is crying. What a touching and dignified performance.

01-25-14, 09:23 PM	#1
Laufen zum Ziel Eternal Patrol Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hiding on the bottom Posts: 1,783 Downloads: 853 Uploads: 457	HEART WARMING Thank you for remembering Holand The Silence About six miles from Maastricht. in the Netherlands lie buried 8,301 American soldiers who died in "Operation Market Garden" in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall and winter of 1944-5. Everyone of the men buried 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, 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. http://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa-venema. __________________ RIP Laufen zum Ziel

01-25-14, 09:33 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Beautiful. I was unaware of this story, and find it very moving. The girl was great, and I loved the look the conductor gave her as the signal to start. Just great. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

01-25-14, 09:35 PM	#3
Laufen zum Ziel Eternal Patrol Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hiding on the bottom Posts: 1,783 Downloads: 853 Uploads: 457	She could have been an angel. __________________ RIP Laufen zum Ziel

01-25-14, 11:36 PM	#4
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,255 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Touching, moving, beautiful.... __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

01-26-14, 06:13 AM	#6
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	I was there for Liberation Day last year, a beautiful service. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

01-26-14, 03:53 AM	#5
Lionclaw Ace of the Deep Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,006 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Indeed.

01-26-14, 07:58 AM	#7
Wolferz Navy Seal Join Date: May 2007 Location: On a mighty quest for the Stick of Truth Posts: 5,963 Downloads: 52 Uploads: 0	BRAVO! __________________ Tomorrow never comes

01-26-14, 08:12 AM	#8
u crank Old enough to know better Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Prince Edward Island Posts: 11,744 Downloads: 136 Uploads: 0	Well that made me cry. Touching indeed. Canada has a very close relationship with the Netherlands that started in WW2. 5,706 Canadian soldiers and airmen were killed in the liberation of Holland. Most are buried in cemeteries in Holland. The Dutch royal family took refuge in Canada during the war and Princess Margriet was born in Ottawa. The Dutch are very grateful for their liberation. Thanks for the post Laufen zum Ziel. __________________ “Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” ― Arthur C. Clarke

01-26-14, 08:48 AM	#9
BrucePartington XO Join Date: May 2013 Location: KM AM99 Posts: 405 Downloads: 33 Uploads: 0	I've seen this before, but didn't know the story behind it. This post made my day. Very moving. Every time I see a documentary or play a theme related video game I cannot do it without thinking of all those who have fallen without seeing the day the war ended. Here's to peace at the end of WWII, and to all who have fallen because of the whim of a mad man. Thank you for sharing. And thank you Holland.

01-26-14, 01:23 PM	#10
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,525 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Very moving I witnessed children tending graves on an individual basis whilst living in Holland and my father (who was visiting me at the time) was deeply touched. __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

01-26-14, 06:24 PM	#11
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,711 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	THe Dutch have proven themselves to be, indeed, a world class nation... __________________ __________________________________________________ __

01-27-14, 01:43 AM	#12
Buddahaid Shark above Space Chicken Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 9,319 Downloads: 162 Uploads: 0	That was just beyond words. I'm still awed. __________________ "However vast the darkness, we must provide our own light." Stanley Kubrick "Tomorrow belongs to those who can hear it coming." David Bowie

01-27-14, 01:54 AM	#13
KrazyDimondRX Seaman Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: NZ, North Island, Counties Posts: 37 Downloads: 30 Uploads: 0	"Everyone of the men buried 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, and keep alive the memory of the soldier they have adopted." One of the coolest, most humbling thing i've ever heard __________________ " An intellectual vacuum so strong that sometime I fear she will soak up the solar system like a black hole. " Skybird " That crazy Mulligan's droppin'em all over the place! "

01-27-14, 07:18 PM	#14
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,362 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Yeah, this big tough vet is crying. What a touching and dignified performance. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.