Credit: US Embassy in Luxembourg
The United States Ambassador to Luxembourg, J. Randolph Evans, joined local trade unions and government ministers on Monday to pay tribute to fallen soldiers at the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Hamm on the occasion of US Labour Day.
Present on this occasion, in addition to the US Ambassador, were the OGBL workers' union, led by Nora Back, and the FNCTTFEL railway and public transport union, along with the Minister of Health, Paulette Lenert, Minister of Agriculture, Viticulture and Rural Development and of Social Security, Romain Schneider, Minister of the Interior and of Equality, Taina Bofferding, and President of the Chamber of Deputies, Fernand Etgen.
During the commemorative event, Ambassador Evans stated: "Thank you to the workers' unions and Luxembourg Ministers who 'remembered' even in times like these. I was deeply honoured to be invited and join Luxembourg's workers' unions and Luxembourg leaders to pay tribute to those who died to liberate Luxembourg in World War II at the Luxembourg American Cemetery on this Labour Day. It is so important to continue commemorations like this with resolve and commitment. Today, everyone who attended proved that commemorations can be done in a way that respects important tradition while also abiding by COVID regulations".
The US Ambassador continued: "That so many high-level leaders and citizens came out today says much about the importance of honoring commitments to remember from over 75 years ago. These leaders exemplify the very best and highlight the continued strong bond between our countries through the solidarity of shared remembrance and commitment to freedom".
Labour Day ("Labor Day") is celebrated in the United States on the first Monday in September to honour and recognise the contributions of workers to the development of the country and has been celebrated as an official US federal holiday since 1894.
The Luxembourg American Cemetery in Hamm is the final resting place of over 5,000 US soldiers, many of whom were labourers themselves before joining the military, who died defending Luxembourg during the Second World War.
