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Battle of the Bulge (Bastogne) commemoration for the 70th Anniversary


P-E
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I went today at the commemoration of the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne. This was the 70th anniversary of the battle and lot of people were present, including some US troops (vets and current active), the King Philippes and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Helen Patton (the Grand-daughter of the General George S. Patton), etc.

 

A convoy of military vehicles was organized throughout the city of Bastogne. Here's a video I took with my camera for those who were not present. Hope you'll enjoy it (sadly, I divided the video in two ; a very small one of 1 minute long, and another one of 16 minutes - together, they show the complete parade).

 

 

 

I took some pictures of museums and so on, but still have to upload them. I'll do that in the following days !

 

 

 

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I have been in Bastogne with my family this weekend and I will ad some pictures too.

It was a very impressive weekend.

This are some of the Veterans, maybe someone can tell me names?

 

post-4177-0-18086500-1418658065.jpg

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Really nice pictures ! I wanted to see the Noville "battle", but finally stayed in Bastogne...too bad, it seems it was very impressive !

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And here's an impressive video of the reconstitution of the battle :

 

 

it seems it has been done by a professional team, because it's a high quality video...! Well done !

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VIDEO, VERY NICELY DONE. I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU PEOPLE OVERSEAS RESPECT YOUR HISTORY AND PRESERVE IT. HERE IN THE STATES FOR MOST PART IS NOT TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS AND SEEMS THAT ALL IS TOSSED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD--- NOT ALL BUT, BY A LARGE PART OF THE POPULATION. THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR HISTORY IS LOOKED DOWN UPON.

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Note the Armor in the Background!

 

That view across the snowy field really looks like some of the wartime photos. The snow should be deeper compared to the original battle, and it was lucky that you had some for the photos. But there is enough to give the photos a great look.

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The first time I ever saw re-enactors was downtown Bastogne in 1984 when I saw a bunch of Belgian teens riding around town in US trucks and jeeps dressed as GIs. The video is very well done.

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Johan Willaert

The first time I ever saw re-enactors was downtown Bastogne in 1984 when I saw a bunch of Belgian teens riding around town in US trucks and jeeps dressed as GIs. The video is very well done.

Could have been me....

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Could have been me....

 

If it was you back in 1984, then I thank you for inspiring me to start re-enacting in the US. I was visiting Bastogne and thought it was the greatest thing ever to see living history. That is what inspired me.

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Johan Willaert

Back in 1984 I took my Jeep to Bastogne on several occasions... I was 18 at the time and had obtained my driver's license in the spring...

I had bought the GPW Jeep at 17 the year before...

 

It was the year re-enacting (or living history) really took off in Europe mainly under influence of the French Militaria Magazine which published their first issue in the fall of that year...

 

I remember driving the Jeep on the nearly 200 mile trip during the freezing night to attend the 40th Bulge commemorations in December... That same weekend Bastogne's main road was closed off and the well known 1944 picture of Bastogne's main street filled with vehicles was recreated. I got permission to photograph it from the same location as in 1944... Will dig up that picture and post it here...

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flashesandovals

Here's my photos album of the Sunday 14, 2014 at Bastogne.

 

https://plus.google.com/photos/110422238969692295333/albums/6093034356492170593

 

Please note that all pictures do not only show WW2 period items - i.e. I also visited the exhibition of Pascal Vermeersch related to the first Gulf War.

Great album, thanks for sharing P-E!

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