November 27, 2009

From Gene's notebooks:

Julien & Anne VanHoorde
Waremme, Belgium

Honorary members of the17th AB INF DIV ASSOC

The Van Hoordes became lasting friends of Gene and Emily Howard many years ago.  Julien is a retired High School Principal and Anne is a retired college professor.  They were small children at the time of the Battle of the Bulge.

Emily and Gene visited them in Belgium in 1996.  We learned that they held the U.S. Army in a very high regard.  We immersed them in the exploits of the 17th Air Borne Infantry Division during the Battle of the Bulge.  It was the first time they had a US WWII soldier as a house guest.

As they heard first hand, the stories of bravery, endurance, sacrifice, death and destruction, a new appreciation of the Battle of the Bulge and the 17th Airborne Infantry Division developed.  A new definition of freedom and individual liberty began to unfold.  The American Cemeteries were no longer just tombs.  Each grave in each cemetery held the body of a young man like their own three sons -  soldiers that had placed their lives on the altar of freedom - that had given up their tomorrows so we could have ours!

The great Henri-Chapelle Cemetery lies on the outskirts of Liege, Belgium, only a few miles from the northern front of the Battle of the Bulge.

At least thirty-one of the soldiers of the 17th Air Borne who died in that battle are entombed there.  The Van Hoordes have adopted all of these graves.  They decorate the graves on Memorial Day and other special times.  The have become honorary members of the 17th Airborne Infantry Division.  They have become members of the 17th Airborne Golden Talon Association of Belgium.

The Van Hoordes are an attest to the high honor the people of Belgium feel toward U.S. soldiers.  We are held unconditionally in the hearts of all of the Belgian people.

                    Eugene W. Howard, 155 C
                    Honorary Citizen:   Houffaliase, Bastogne, Waremme