Celebrating 70 Years of Victory at the World War II Memorial
by J. David Bailey, 106th Infantry Division, Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge and Member of the Friends of the World War II Memorial.
Seventy years ago our forebears helped save the world from the unspeakable horror of global Fascist domination. American troops along with British, Canadians, Free French and other Allied Soldiers earned the non-ubiquitous title – The Greatest Generation. Across the Free World people took to the streets in celebration of a hard-fought peace.
The War in Europe was over but not without sacrifice. In the end, the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest of Belgium and Luxembourg was the costliest action every fought by the U. S. Army, and suffered 80,000 losses between casualties and wounded. Winston Churchill later stated.
“7/r/s is undoubtedly the greatest American Battle of the War and will, I believe, be regarded as an ever-famous American Victory”
On May 8,1945 I was in Bad Ems, Germany and five of my comrades from 106th Infantry Division took off for the nearest tavern to celebrate. We never dreamed that there was a cameraman present from the “Stars and Stripes” and that we would appear on the cover page of their Victory Edition. It was a humbling but gratifying experience for all of us.
Today’s commemoration co-hosted by the Friends of the National Word War II Memorial and the National Park Service was the largest event held at the World War II Memorial since its dedication more than ten years ago. Present was a roster of distinguished guests and representatives from the embassies of nearly 30 European Theatre Allied Nations.
Record numbers of veterans and their families including World War II veterans were present for the occasion.
The event climaxed by “A Victory Capital Flyover” which included 56 World War II aircraft flying in 15 historically sequenced war bird formation overhead. For those of us that witnessed this spectacle it was a moment to always remember.
As we celebrate this landmark occasion let us not simply commemorate history, let us rededicate ourselves to the freedom to which we fought.
In the words of George Washington – “Freedom when it begins to take root, is a plant of
rapid growth.”
May 8, 2015
