On 16 December 2016, the 72nd anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge was commemorated at the National Liberation Memorial in Nothum.
Earlier this week, Luxembourg commemorated the Battle of the Bulge at this memorial, situated at the Schumanns Eck intersection in Nothum.
The Luxembourg Secretary of State for Defense, Francine Closener, attended the ceremony, along with the ambassador of the USA, David McKean, the mayor of the Wiltz municipality, Fränk Arndt, and American veterans who had fought in Luxembourg during the winter of 1944/45.
Following the welcome speech by the National Liberation Memorial’s (NML) secretary Vic Schreiner, the NLM’s president Frank Rockenbrod emphasised the necessity of “valuing our similarities and not our differences.”
Students from the Nordstad-Lycée Diekirch then gave their reflections on peace, before the US ambassador, David McKean, explained in his speech that “we should continue to pass on our heritage so as to put forward our collective values and memories.”
Likewise, the mayor of Wiltz, Fränk Arndt emphasised the importance of values, notably those of tolerance and solidarity.
At the end of the ceremony, the authorities placed flower wreaths in front of the Liberation Memorial as a symbol of recognition for the American soldiers who fought for freedom and peace in Luxembourg.
Photo by EMA. From left to right: Francine Closener, Secretary of State for Defense; Fränk Arndt, mayor of Wiltz; Patrick Comes, alderman of Wiltz
