MARGRATEN, Netherlands Aca,!" U.S. Army Garrison Schinnen Soldiers escorted a Dutch relay team on the final leg of a continuous relay from Utah Beach, France, by running with the team around the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial to celebrate Dutch Liberation Day, May 5.
The Dutch team left Utah Beach, near the French town of Saint Marie du Mont, 5 p.m., May 2. Upon reaching the Margraten cemetery noon, May 5, they completed approximately 688 kilometers and were greeted by a gallery of dignitaries and spectators for a special ceremony on the mall of the cemetery.
A Color Guard formed by Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets from AFNORTH International High School, Brunssum, Netherlands, professionally represented the multinational characteristics of the NATO community that their school serves. AIS is operated jointly by Canada, Germany, United Kingdom and United States.
The national anthems for the Netherlands, France, Belgium and the United States were sung a cappella in the native languages of the three countries by Mike Yasenchak, the superintendant of the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial.
Wreaths were laid by local Dutch and U.S. military dignitaries representing the American Embassy, the towns of Margraten and Stein, USAG Schinnen and the Stichtung Ultraloop Stein relay team.
After the solemn 30-minute ceremony, U.S. Army Maj. Marius Price led a formation of Soldiers carrying the garrison colors and the Dutch relay team around the lush green grounds that are the final resting place for 8,301 Americans.
The run was completed to the applause of spectators who then watched the relay team depart to their final destination of Stein, South Limburg, Netherlands, on the last 25 kilometers of the run from Utah Beach. Once the last runner reached Stein, the torch was passed to the Mayor, who lit a bonfire to signal the beginning of the townAca,!a,,cs Liberation Day festivities.
The Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial is one of 24 permanent American burial grounds operated by the American Battle Monuments Commission on foreign soil. All of the American graves at the cemetery have been adopted by Dutch families, many of whom make a special trip there every May 5 to honor the American sacrifices that led to the liberation of the Netherlands more than 65 years ago.
Liberation Day festivities are officially observed May 5 in the Netherlands, which is to the Dutch as Memorial Day weekend is to the Americans. Later this month, a grand ceremony will be held May 30 at Margraten Cemetery to mark the U.S. Memorial Day. This event typically attracts more than 4,000 participants.
The Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial was established in September 1944 by the U.S. 611th Graves Registration Company commanded at the time by U.S. Army Capt. Joseph Shomon.
Aca,!A"Capt. ShomonAca,!a,,cs search for a location brought him to the Town Hall of Margraten. A representative that spoke English escorted him to an orchard where Shomon and local farmers came to an agreement. The first graves were laid in November 1944. The Dutch have been honoring our fallen with an annual tribute since then on our U.S. Memorial Day,Aca,!A? Yasenchak said.
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