41 Luxembourg Americans Enjoy Luxembourg Legacy Tour

Luxembourg Legacy has just concluded a ten-day visit to the Grand Duchy, from 20-30 May 2026, including a group of 41 Luxembourg Americans from no less than eleven different US states, each participant having their own link with/to Luxembourg. 

Led by Kevin Wester, with Guy Scholtes, Rebecca Shamblin and Mary Bolich, the group met up in Brussels after most had flown from Chicago, Illinois, to Belgium's capital city. After a lunch on the Grand Place, they continued the journey to Luxembourg by coach, to check in to their hotel in Dommeldange. 

The tour itinerary included tours (some with a guide; some self-guided) of historic sites and some UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including:

- the American Luxembourg Cemetery in Hamm, burial site of General George Patton and 5,000+ American soldiers killed in WWII (guided tour with Roland Gaul, an authority on World War II and the Battle of the Bulge in Luxembourg, followed by a wreath laying at Patton's grave and the retiring of colours at the cemetery).

- in Diekirch, a guided tour of Luxembourg's National Military Museum (with Roland Gaul)

- in Vianden, a self-guided tour of the Chateau Vianden after stopping at the overlook for photos, with some also enjoying the chairlift to the chalet overlooking the town.

- along the River Moselle, a luncheon cruise from Grevenmacher to Remich aboard the Princesse Marie-Astrid

- in Schengen, described as the birthplace of a "Europe without borders" and site of 1985 signing of Schengen Agreement on the Moselle River.

- in Bascharage, a guided tour of Bofferding Brewery followed by beer tasting

- in Limpertsberg, a guided tour of historic Notre-Dame Cemetery (by Robert Philippart, renowned Luxembourg historian)

- in Kirchberg, a guided tour of the Musée Dräi Eechelen, the museum of Luxembourg City's fortress (by Théo and Marie-France)

- in Clervaux, a visit of Edward Steichen's Family of Man Exhibit

- in Echternach, on Tuesday 26 May (the day after Whit Monday), the group got the opportunity to participate in the Spring Dancing / Hopping Procession, attired in black or dark navy blue, long trousers and a white long- or short-sleeved shirt with a collar, wearing comfortable shoes; the procession is held annually in honour of St. Willibrord, Luxembourg's patron saint - he was an Anglo-Saxon monk who brought Christianity to the region of Europe. He founded a monastery in Echternach and died there in 739 AD; he is is buried in the crypt of the basilica which bears his name. The procession followed the 08:00 Pontifical Mass with Jean-Claude Cardinal Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg, presiding. 

The group also enjoyed an Art Exhibition/Sale of one-of-a-kind paintings of Luxembourg by wife and husband artists, Monique Bintz and Guy Scholtes (Monique and Kevin Wester have been pen pals for over 45 years). 

In addition, tour leader Kevin Wester also led a group walking tour of Luxembourg city which included the following sights: Pont Adolphe and the Petrusse Valley; the Golden Lady (Gëlle Fra) and the Place de la Constitution; Notre-Dame Cathedral; the Fish Market (behind the palace); the Bock (described as the Birthplace of Luxembourg) and the Casemates; the Grand-Ducal Palais and Chamber of Deputies (parliament); Place Guillaume II; and Place d'Armes. That same day, some members of the tour group were able to apply for citizenship, and others were able to collect their new Luxembourg passports. On another day the group was shown the Abbaye de Neumunster with views of the Bock; the Pilgrimage Chapel for Our Lady of Luxembourg (dating to 1628) and the Glacis Chapel (1885).

Outside of Luxembourg the group also visited Bastonge in Belgium and Trier in Germany:

- Bastogne: culmination of the Battle of the Bulge, including a visit to the Mardasson Monument and a self-guided audio tour of Bastogne War Museum; also a tour of the Schumannseck Memorial (bunkers and foxholes from WWII) and Massegraf (mass grave from WWII) with Roland Gaul

- Trier: Germany's oldest city founded by the Romans and located on the Moselle; a guided walking tour (by Anke and Stephan) including sites such as the Porta Nigra (under renovation); Roman ruins; the Cathedral Dom St. Peter, housing the tunic of Jesus Christ; the Church of our Dear Lady; the Constantine Basilica; and the Palace of Trier.

The tour highlight for many, Monday 25 May was designated as the Family Day / Free Day: for those wishing to visit an ancestral village, Luxembourg Legacy arranged for a Luxembourg volunteer to serve as their driver/guide/translator for the day. For those not opting for this, they were given a document Kevin Wester created entitled "Luxembourg City – Kevin's Favorites" for them to follow at their leisure.

A big emphasis of the tour group was their almost-daily group dinners at which they chatted amongst themselves and with various Luxembourgers who had joined for the day. 

They also enjoyed a special occasion over a drink while enjoying magnificent views of old Luxembourg City from the top floor bar at the Sofitel near Luxembourg-Gare.

After the tour had concluded, Kevin Wester, leader of the Luxembourg Legacy tour, talked with Chronicle.lu and explained that Luxembourg Americans are hungry for information on Luxembourg "but the family day and visiting their ancestral village is the highlight". He explained that a number of participants discovered their ancestral home describing it as "an overwhelmingly emotional experience. It is like the prodigal son or daughter coming back home to discover their mysterious past".

He paid tribute too to the various people in the Grand Duchy who supported the tour, many not for the first time. He stated "We are grateful to the volunteer Luxembourgers who serve as drivers/guides on our family day. Through these interactions, the bond between Luxembourg and America is renewed each time we meet. No matter what politicians are in power in Luxembourg of the USA, ultimately, it is up to 'regular' Luxembourgers and Americans to keep the bond strong".

He also revealed that the daughters of two "WWII war brides" were on the tour, revealing "I've never had one daughter of a war bride on the tour so this special, especially when they share their mother's stories with one another".

"Jeannee's mother was actually from Mamer and her family owned a tavern. Jeannee's mother met her US soldier husband there. They went off to America and married. Jeannee was their own child and her mother died when she was quite young. The Luxembourgish grandparents then moved to the US to assist . Surprisingly, Jeannee had never visited Luxembourg before, probably because her mother died young and her grandparents were in America, so she was overwhelmed by the experience. A true homecoming. She came a week early to visit with relatives she had stayed in contact with and on our family day, she discovered where the tavern was in Mamer, etc." 

A second such story was recounted as follows "Nadine's mother also went to the US to marry the soldier she fell in love with. Unlike Jeannee, Nadine spent many summers in Luxembourg with her aunt, a single woman who was somewhat wealthy with a beautiful home near Fondation Pescatore. Nadine and her niece (the only other survivor in the family) sold the house a few years ago. It is still standing and is being resold and will probably be torn down and redeveloped. Nadine and her niece got to visit the house which brought back many childhood memories for Nadine".

Chronicle.lu also spoke with a number of participants.

Jeanne Warner of Lawrence, Kansas, (her father was a Luxembourger and an Olympian - see) stated: "I enjoyed so many things about the tour, but I'd have to say my favorite thing of all was the Family of Man exhibition in Clervaux. The images were so powerful and emotional."

Monica Gantner of Grafton, Wisconsin, said she went to three of her ancestral towns on family day. "It was an experience I will never forget. Being taken by Luxembourgers for Family Day and the work and effort they made to make it meaningful and memorable was an opportunity I wouldn't otherwise have had."

Monica (May) Smith stated "I was deeply moved and grateful for the opportunity to visit Wormeldange again! My guides, Jeanne [Meyers-Kaysen] and Margo [Geoff-Kaysen] went above and beyond to find additional information on the matriarchal side, yielding a history of 500 years. To see the home of my great-great-grandparents will always be my most treasured memory. My gratitude also extends to Suzi Konert, who provided additional details on my heritage and life in Wormeldange."

Mary Schmidt of Dubuque, Iowa, was moved by the visit to the National Museum of Military History in Diekirch. "Roland Gaul just made it all so real with his descriptions of finding guns and grenades and other objects from the war when he was a boy. He just had so much information that it brought it to life for me — the devastation and tragedy, survival and triumph, too." Her husband Jim Schmidt added, "It's easier to understand no why our family members who were in the war never really wanted to talk about it. It's heart-warming to learn that the Luxembourg people appreciate America so much and how welcoming the Luxembourg people were to the American soldier."

Kevin Wester concluded by revealing that the next trips will be in 2027 when they will organise two such trips: one around Luxembourg's National Day in June, and the Grevenmacher Wine Fest in mid-September.

Separately, the Luxembourg American Cultural Society (LACS) also organises such visits, their next one scheduled to take place around this year's National Day on 23 June. 

ED