Human Interest - HL 220 (1)

From: robert moser

Date: 11/14/2014 12:25:30 AM

To:  Mark Sztanyo

Subject: 'IL SILENZIO'

About six miles from Maastricht, in the Netherlands, lie buried 8,301

American soldiers who died in "Operation    Market Garden" in the

battles to liberate Holland in the fall winter of 1944. 

Every one of the men buried in the cemetery, as well as those in the

Canadian and British military cemeteries, has been adopted by a Dutch

family who mind the grave, decorate it, and keep alive the memory of

the soldier they have adopted. It is even the custom to keep a

portrait of "their" American soldier in a place of honor in their

home. Annually, on "Liberation Day," memorial services are held for "the

men who died to liberate Holland." The day concludes with a concert. The final piece is always "Il Silenzio," a memorial piece commissioned by the Dutch and first played in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of Holland's liberation. It has been the concluding 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 orchestra (the Royal Orchestra of the Netherlands).

This beautiful concert piece is based upon the original version of taps and was composed by Italian composer Nino Rossi.

http://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa-venema.htm

1. The American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne, France... A total of 2289

2. The American Cemetery at Ardennes, Belgium... A total of 5329

3. The American Cemetery at Brittany, France... A total of 4410

4. Brookwood, England - American Cemetery... A total of 468

5. Cambridge, England... A total of 3812

6. Epinal, France - American Cemetery... A total of 5525

7. Flanders Field, Belgium... A total of 368

8. Florence, Italy... A total of 4402

9. Henri-Chapelle, Belgium... A total of 7992

10. Lorraine , France... A total of 10,489

11. Luxembourg, Luxembourg... A total of 5076

12. Meuse-Argonne... A total of 14,246

13. Netherlands, Netherlands... A total of 8301

14. Normandy, France... A total of 9387

15. Oise-Aisne, France... A total of 6012

16. Rhone, France... A total of 861

17. Sicily, Italy... A total of 7861

18. Somme, France... A total of 1844

19. St. Mihiel, France... A total of 4153

20. Suresnes, France... A total of 1541

The count was 104,366 known dead, brave Americans in Europe

 


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