Answer to Sybil in diary – GWB visits Margraten in Limburg, the Netherlands!
Secret Service wanted to shut down about 50% of the Limburg province. Was unacceptable, in the end agreed to let GWB stay the night in beautiful small village of Valkenburg, near the Allied cemetery Margraten. I wrote about this in my recent diary: TODAY – Liberation Day – May 5th
I will provide some more INFO about the cemetery, created just inside the border with Germany near Aachen. During the 1944-45 battles as the Allied forces moved east toward Berlin, the Allied rule is that the soldiers cannot be laid to rest in enemy territory.
More to follow about the American Military Cemetery in Margraten —
In 1946 there were some 18,970 soldiers laid to rest in Margraten. Each grave has been adopted by a Dutch citizen, for a regular visit and to place flowers. Today there are some 8,300 graves left and the 3rd generation, the grandchildren of the Dutch, take care of the task for regular visits. The stories broadcast today, interviews with the veterans who come to visit their comrades are heartbreaking still!
One special story was about Pfc. Jack Cook, an orphan 14 years old when he enlisted in 1943, and was shipped to Europe for the Great War. Jack was big for his age, and got his stepmother to promise not to reveal his age to the military. Jack Cook fought in the Ardennes, Belgium during the battle of the Bulge. That was in December 1944 when the Germans made one last attempt to cut through Belgium to reach the port of Antwerp, and deal the Allies a blow.
In spring 1945, Jack’s stepmother went to the Army to reveal his true age. Immediately, an order was sent to relieve Jack from his battle duties, now across the border in Germany. The order arrived one day too late. In Jack’s last fight, he was the first soldier to approach a German stronghold, when a white flag of surrender was waved. A sniper’s bullet ended his life. Jack Cook has his final restplace in Margraten, a beautiful countryside he helped liberate.
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I never get emotional about WWII anymore, when a veteran on visit told the story of Jack Cook yesterday on radio, I couldn’t keep it dry, when I jotted down his comment.
I believe when war effects the lives of millions, each life is precious. This is the story of Jack Cook, who still lives forth 60 years later, in the thoughts and hearts of his battlefield buddies!
I will also use this diary to keep UPDATES on Bush’s visit to the Netherlands today and any Bush speak on foreign policy before he travels to Russia and Georgia.
17th Airborne – WWII
Patton’s Third U.S. Army had finally broken the siege at Bastogne with a marathon thrust from the south. Upon arriving the 513th PIR and the other elements of the 17th Airborne Division were attached to Patton’s Third U.S. Army and ordered to immediately close in at Mourmelon. After taking over the defense of the Meuse River sector from Givet to Verdun on 25 December, the 17th moved to Neufchateau, Belgium, then marched through the snow to Morhet, relieving the 28th Infantry Division on 3 January 1945 and establishing a Division Command Post.
In the ensuing days, the 513th PIR would gain their baptism of fire that would have tested the mettle of the most experienced airborne units. General Patton had ordered the 17th Airborne to seize the town of Flamierge where the 11th Armour and the 87th Infantry Divisions had encountered brutal resistance from the Germans.
destiny.”
………Franklin Delano Roosevelt – June 27,1936
XVIII Airborne Corps — 17th Airborne Division
Stretching along the side of the Court are the two Walls of the Missing on which are recorded the names of 1,722 who gave their lives in the service of their Country but who rest in unknown graves. Beyond the tower containing the chapel is the burial area, divided into 16 plots, where rest 8,301 of our military Dead, their headstones set in long curves. A wide tree-lined mall leads to the flag staff which crowns the crest.
The light fixture in the chapel, and the altar candelabra and flowerbowl were presented by the Government of the Netherlands and by the local Provincial administration.
Weeping figure for all left behind
with olive tree of hope
In consideration:
- that on 7 and 8 May the President of the United States visits South-Limburg;
- that except the President, he is accompanied on his visit by his wife and the Secretary of State;
- that the arrival and departure of the President will be Maastricht-Aachen Airport in the city of Beek;
- […]
The State of Emergency in pdf file, eight pages long, includes an area map with the security zones and NOGO areas marked. The perimeter is protected by 3 miles of razor-barbed wire.
Welcome Mr. President!
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UPDATED –14:00 EST–
at Margraten, listening to the speech of Dutch PM Jan Peter Balkenende, his best speech ever IMO, when Balkenende took a quote from FDR in 1941.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt said that freedom is incomplete without freedom from want and freedom from fear. He also said, “The world order which we seek is the cooperation of free countries, working together in a friendly, civilized society.”
The truth of what he said in 1941, can still be recognised – must still be recognised – here, at Margraten, on the eighth of May 2005.
We must not leave anyone behind. We must never take freedom for granted. We must keep working with our partners in the West and East.
VIDEO link to Dutch News broadcast – forgive the moments when Dutch is spoken.
The essence of PM speech was a call for all nations to join and unite to ward off adversaries through dialogue in search of permanent peace.
The commemoration at the War Memorial in Margraten has just finished. It was a sober but impressive ceremony with salute firing squad, missing man formation in joint fly-over, taps and a military band playing short march music themes. George and Laura enjoyed themselves, were very informal with extensive handshaking afterwards and meeting the veterans. Queen Beatrix was present to accompany the president, as both expressed their appreciation to the fallen heroes by symbolism of wreath laying at the 30m high memorial.
The PM and GW both referred to Anne Frank in their speeches. I believe GW mentioned Iraq and terror only ONCE, unbelievable. George must have spent breakfast at the invitation of Beatrix, who is known for her sympathy for pacifism.
President Bush at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial
Transcript of speech at Margraten
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Would you believe in the Netherlands?
So you are all safe for the night.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
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US Embassy – Victory in Europe Day (VE Day).
WWII Netherlands-American Cemetery Memorial
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Heroes at Margraten
Website City of Margraten
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
… of the Netherlands during their stay in Limburg province.
“The Bush administration will distance itself from the Neo-Conservatists.”
CONDI: “The US needs to listen to its European partners and join in cooperation to tackle world issues.”
Is this heresy? George, Condi needs spanking.
Or, far away from home base, Condi got hit by the free air of European Liberalism. This is her second tour of Europe as new Secretary of State, maybe she IS intelligent and apt to learn facts.
Too bad, is Karen Hughes still writing George’s historic speeches about Yalta?
However, it is true the US never recognized the annexation of the three Baltic States by the Soviet Union after WWII. Even kept Ambassadors in Washington DC of the three states they represented.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
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Q. Related to concern for terrorism, creation of the Patriots Act, and will some of these measures be dropped in due time?
BUSH: No. In a free society, important duty for the government to protect the American people from harm, in balance with the civil liberties of our citizens.
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Sept. 11th was an important moment and a terrible moment — but for us it was a change of attitude. I mean, it changed a lot about how I looked at the world, and a lot of Americans, it changed how they looked at the world. I mean, it was more than just an attack; it was a whole mind-set. And that’s why your question is really relevant — did that mind-set, did that change of attitude cause us to then begin to take away certain civil liberties, and I would argue, it did not.
Q. What can you ask of the [American] people on financial offers in conflicts [cost of war], what is the balance between your responsibility to the world and your own people?
BUSH: And that’s the interesting balance of a free society, by the way, is the extent to which the welfare state is prevalent. And I believe we — government has a role to help those who cannot help themselves, and then encourage people who can help themselves to realize dreams to good education and good policy.
Abroad, we have a responsibility, as well. First, let me just tell you, the hardest decision a President makes is war. Nobody wants to be at war. Nobody. Now the question is, how do we spread peace. And one way you spread peace is spread democracy. That’s the lesson of World War II. If that thought troubles you we can discuss this a little more. But the lesson of World War II, at least, was that by spreading democracy throughout Europe, that Europe at last became whole, peace — free, whole and at peace. That’s the lesson that people at least ought to take away from the experience of the last 60 years. I believe it applies to the next 60, as well.
But we have other duties, as well — HIV/AIDS, for example, in the continent of Africa is a pandemic that has got to be appalling to the free world. And my government is spending $15 billion as part of a global effort to help — help defeat HIV/AIDS. We feed more of the hungry than any nation, and it’s an obligation we readily accept. But, as well, as we work to help those who hurt, we also have got to put practical policies in place.
[…]
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
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Management and all employees of Chateau St. Gerlach were excited and impressed by George and Laura Bush. He made no exception, and thanked everyone with a personal handshake and photo.
Local TV Limburg
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité
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NRC evening paper indicates just small talk
Fifteen Dutch students spoke during a fifty minute roundtable with George Bush, directly after Bush’s breakfast meeting with PM Jan Peter Balkenende, and before the commemoration at Margraten. The first ten minutes were spend in the presence of journalists. Also present at the roundtable were Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, US Ambassador Clifford Sobel and FM Bernard Bot.
The students were selected on invitation by the US Embassy, and in some manner had been connected with them before.
Madeleine Hofmijster, student at the Technical University Twente, asked Bush the question on the Patriot Act. The students were not required to present their questions beforehand. Hofmijster: “The theme was freedom and democracy, but were told the topics were not limited.” In answering all questions, Bush’s theme was the necessity of democracy. Hofmijster: “Bush was cheerful and spoke well, completely convinced of his own ideology.” Someone suggested that the Muslim world community may be afraid of the US, Bush answered: “That point I will take along. Thank you for your concern.”
Expatica News – just a review
IMHO time would be better spent on the meeting between FM Bernard Bot and Condi Rice, indications are the US will abandon its unilateral position in approach of world issues, consult with allies and seek cooperation between partners in a broad spectrum.
Oui – Liberté – Egalité – Fraternité