Veteran's Day 11-11-2013 - Luxembourg

So on Veteran's day we decided to go to the cemetery where General Patton was buried in Luxembourg.  They were having a ceremony there.  So we drove about an hour and half and luckily we arrived 30 minutes early or we wouldn't have gotten any seats.  Though sitting for an hour and a half in 33 degree weather was quite chilly!

 

The rows and rows of crosses - over 5000 soldiers buried here, one woman, five of the "Band of Brothers", two medal of honor winners and General Patton.

 

As you can see it was really, really foggy.  We thought it might lift, but it never did.  Look behind the speaker and you can see the crosses, almost like they aren't there, but still there watching.

 

The laying of the wreaths.  These were two men who fought in the war along with a Marine.

 

The 21 gun salute.  They were really off on their first one, the second was better and the third was spot on.

 

The playing of taps, it was very emotional and silent as he played.

 

Mom and Dad listening to taps.

 

A Marine as taps was played, standing in front of the flags.

 

The fog lifted some so you could kind of see the rest of the cemetery but still not quite all of it.

 

Mom and Dad checking out General Patton's grave.

 

Then of course I had to take them over to the German cemetery.  I wanted to show them the difference between the two.

 

Heading into the cemetery, no huge golden gates or big open space, just a little cross and little doorway.

 

Then the gray stones, not white, and there are two names per stone here.

 

About half of them are buried in a mass grave because they didn't know their names.

 

After that, what trip to Luxembourg is complete without a trip to the pirate ship park!  :-)  The boys were sooooo excited to show Grandma and Grandpa everything at the park!!

 

Michael ringing the bell!

 

AJ showing Grandma how well he can climb!

 

Michael leading Grandpa off to show him more of the park, AJ showing Grandma his skills about sliding on the slide on his feet!

 

The boys love the tire swing!!!!

 

They had to show Grandma and Grandpa how they get up to the crow's nest!!!

 

Michael and the turtle - though I think Michael is much faster than the turtle!!!

 

Then we headed into the town in search for some lunch.  Mom enjoying the view walking down the street!!!  After lunch we headed over to the casemates.  I have been trying to go through the casemates every single time I have come.  This is the third time and I thought finally I would get to go in them.  But to my dismay, they shut them down during the winter.  So I think I am just not destined to see them.  :-)

 

They also had a wreath laying ceremony here.  It was interesting because the wreaths looked exactly like the ones at the cemetery. 

 

Then across the rode, we took Grandma and Grandpa into the Notre Dame church in Luxembourg.  They thought it was beautiful!!!  After that we were heading back to the car to head home because the boys did have school the next day.  But of course they saw the pirate ship park and wanted to stop and play.

 

So we stopped for a little bit - the boys being silly with Grandma on the swing!

 

AJ decided he wanted to get off and push Michael also!  Then we headed home.

 

There was no rest for the weary - the boys begged Grandma as soon as we got home to make window art and of course she said yes!  It was a great day and a wonderful ceremony!  It was really awesome to be at a Veteran's day ceremony in Luxembourg where so many of our men are buried and to honor them and all the other men and women who have served this country.  My thanks to all of them, past, present and future.