A tribute to operation Market Garden WW-2

The Silence.

Near, in the Netherlands, lie buried 8,301 American soldiers who died
In Operation Market Garden” in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall
And
Winter of 1944-5.  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, 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.