Friday we said "Auf Wiedersehen" to Germany and started back towards Brussels.  On the way we enjoyed the countryside and scenery which then led to the autobahns and bustle of the highways where we made good time.  On the way, we stopped at another American Cemetery and Memorial in the St. Avold region of France.  This is known as the Lorraine American Cemetery and contains the largest number of WWII American military graves in Europe, with more than 10,000 resting here.   Some of these pictures need no captioning...

The Vet visited those from the 194h GIR, and also remembered those from the 550th Airborne Infantry Battalion that was attached to the 194th in The Bulge. 












Our guide located each of the graves, made sure they were clean, and provided sand from Utah Beach to rub into the engraving on the stones so they could be more easily recognized...a nice touch.

As we moved about the cemetery, we were told of the many brothers resting side by side.  We noted several, and among them are those marked by the 3 sets of side by side stones you see in the center of this picture...Sundahl, George A. and John C.,  Doherty, John E. and Joseph C. and Preddy, George E. Jr. and William R.    Makes one think.

 Our Fellow Countrymen

Enduring All And Giving All

That Mankind Might Live In Freedom And In Peace

They Join That Glorious Band of Heroes 

Who Have Gone Before

This map is on the wall of the chapel - a graphic and narrative encapsulation of the last year of WWII in Europe from D-Day 6 June 1944, the Allied forces pushing The Enemy north and east, and ultimately into submission and surrender on 8 May 1945.  

Here's a bit more of a map close-up, from which the areas of France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the German border are more visible, and we can see the famed "Bulge" (look for the black) where the Germans pushed into Belgium.

 

 I noticed the car ride was rather quiet for a while after the Memorial visits...rightfully so.



After the Lorraine cemetery, we continued north through Luxembourg and back into Belgium, towards Bastogne, then to the Houmont area one last time.  

We bid adieu to Dead Man's Ridge...

...and to Flamierge.  Still hard to grasp that this tiny enclave in the Belgian countryside was the objective of an entire Division...





Another 90 minutes or so put us  back in Brussels.  We dropped off our bags, rested for 12 minutes, then rejoined Greg and Virginie for some touring of the city by night - walked the Grand Place in the central part of Brussels, snapped a few pics and then enjoyed a great meal together at "T' Kelderke" ('the little cellar") - a cozy little Brussels restaurant.  The food was hot, hearty and delicious, which hit the spot on a chilly evening.  Good call, Greg...

Tomorrow - our last full day in Brussels...stay tuned...