On September 17, 1944, 41,628 airborne troops parachuted into Holland in what was known as Operation Market Garden. It was the largest airborne operation conducted during World War II and consisted of the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and the British 1st Airborne Division. The objective was for the airborne to capture and hold all the bridges between the Belgium border and town of Arnhem in Holland until the British infantry could move forward. The problem was the British failed to listen to their intelligence people when they were told the Germans had several combat units in the area. The operation was a failure with the allies having to withdrawal leaving behind between 15,000 and 17,000 dead and wounded. Near the Dutch town of Maastricht lies a cemetery. Buried there are over 8,000 American soldiers who lost their lives during the battle. Every one of men buried there, as well as those buried in the Canadian and British military cemeteries have been adopted by Dutch families who mind the graves and keep alive the memory of the soldier they have adopted. Annually, on Liberation Day, memorial services are held for these soldiers. A concert is held at the end of the day and, since 1965, the final piece played has been Il Silenzio (The Silence). It is an instrumental piece commissioned by the Dutch government in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of Hollands liberation from the Nazis. It has been played every year since then. Three years ago, 13-year-old Melissa Venema, backed by the Royal Orchestra of the Netherlands, played this piece for the first time. This piece is based on the American version of Taps.
Posted on: Fri, 02 Jan 2015 10:11:34 +0000
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