The Silence… about 6 miles from Maastricht in the Netherlands lie buried 8,301 American soldiers who Died in Operation Market Garden in the battles to liberate Holland. This was during the fall and winter of 1944-45. Each of the men In the American cemetery, as well as those in the Canadian and British military cemeteries, have been adopted by a Dutch Family who minds the grave, decorates it, and keeps alive the memory of the soldier they adopted. It is the custom to keep a portrait of their American soldier in a place of honor in their home. Liberation Day (Dutch: Bevrijdingsdag) is celebrated each year on May 5th to mark the end of the occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II. On Liberation Day they have memorial services for the men who died to liberate Holland. The Day ends with a concert, always concluded with Il Silenzio, (The Silence) a memorial piece which was commissioned by the Dutch and first played in 1965: the 20th anniversary of Hollands liberation. Il Silenzio has been the final piece of the Memorial concert ever since. This year, the soloist was a 13 year old Dutch girl, Melissa Venema, backed by André Rieu and his royal orchestra of the Netherlands. This beautiful Piece is based on the original version of Taps, and composed by Italian composer Niño Rossi. https://youtube/watch?v=H4l3Rgq-L1M&index=6&list=PL890EA26ADB53F4CB
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 22:36:11 +0000