‘Il Silencio (The Silence) a rendition of TAPS Click on this beautiful rendition of the original version of TAPS!
This clip will bring tears to your eyes and remind us all of the sacrifices to save freedom and the 70th Anniversary of the End of WWII. The following quote is provided as another way to remember and honor the veterans of all wars…
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 Dutchgirl, 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.”
Following is a more complete list of WWII American’s buried on European soil.
The American Cemetery at Aisne-Marne, France… A total of 2289
The American Cemetery at Ardennes, Belgium… A total of 5329
The American Cemetery at Brittany, France… A total of 4410
Brookwood, England – American Cemetery… A total of 468
Cambridge, England… A total of 3812
Epinal, France – American Cemetery… A total of 5525
Flanders Field, Belgium… A total of 368
Florence, Italy… A total of 4402
Henri-Chapelle, Belgium… A total of 7992
Lorraine , France… A total of 10,489
Luxembourg, Luxembourg… A total of 5076
Meuse-Argonne… A total of 14,246
Netherlands, Netherlands... A total of 8301
Normandy, France… A total of 9387
Oise-Aisne, France… A total of 6012
Rhone, France… A total of 861
Sicily, Italy… A total of 7861
Somme, France… A total of 1844
St. Mihiel, France… A total of 4153
Suresnes, France… A total of 1541
Honoring all US Cemetaries in Europe…another moving tribute clip of TAPS…
Steve Sparks, Author, Reconciliation: A Son’s Story and My Journey of Healing in Life After Trauma, Part 2… Click highlighted text for my author page…