L-R: Emile Eicher, Mayor of Clervaux; J. Randolph Evans, US Ambassador to Luxembourg;
Credit: US Embassy in Luxembourg
On Sunday 20 December 2020, the US Ambassador to Luxembourg, J. Randolph Evans, visited Clervaux to commemorate the Battle of the Bulge and announce a U S Embassy grant to the Cercle d'Etudes sur la Bataille des Ardennes (CEBA).
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Clervaux was unable to host its annual public World War II commemoration. Instead, CEBA arranged a small, private wreath-laying ceremony at Clervaux’s GI Memorial. Ambassador Evans, Mayor Emile Eicher, CEBA President Erny Kohn and a small group of aldermen and CEBA members attended.
Ambassador Evans thanked CEBA for organising the small ceremony and spoke about the courage of those who fought in the war. He stated: “Standing here in front of this monument to all the American GIs who fought for the liberation of Luxembourg and beyond. It’s impossible not to stop and reflect on the experiences of WWII, of Luxembourg’s suffering and resilience, of America’s resolve and sacrifice”.
At the ceremony, the US Ambassador also announced that the US Embassy in Luxembourg was awarding CEBA a $5,000 grant to restore its Sherman M4A3 tank. CEBA’s tank, currently on display in Petange, is one of just two WWII Sherman tanks in Luxembourg. It was used by US soldiers to defend Clervaux Castle from the Nazis in the Battle of the Bulge.
Mayor Emile Eicher and CEBA presented Ambassador Evans with gifts thanking him for his work with the municipality of Clervaux and his support of historical remembrance societies in Luxembourg.
