12 October 2018, Johan and I attended the annual Stichting Never Forget Them Airborne Commemoration in Heteren. This was my third year to attend. It is held at the 101st Monument close to the Crossroads, just behind where 506th PIR Bernard Tom was KIA on 9 October 1944.
I have been researching Bernie for more than a year and writing his book. His family gave Johan his letters and some from family & friends. I hope to release the book at the 75th Anniversary of Operation Market Garden in 2019. Bernie jumped into Holland and fought here for a few weeks before he was killed. Since much of my client work is not for airborne, but other units within the Army, Navy, Army Air Forces, Marines, and Coast Guard, researching Bernie’s records have been interesting.
The commemoration in Heteren was basically the same as the last three years. The founder, Martin Veggelers read a speech as he does each year. The mayor spoke. School children read poems. Sadly, doves were not released this year. I wonder if that was due to the fact that there was a firing party that fired a salute. I guess the noise would have scared the doves. The usual wreaths were laid by the foundation, the town, various groups, and school children laid poems and flowers by the monument. Last Post was played and of course the American and Dutch National Anthems as the flags were raised.
The commemoration was well attended as it is each year. You can read about the 2017 Commemoration here. Read about the 2016 Commemoration here.
This year, on The Island, near Crossroads and the monument, is an enormous WWII re-enactment camp. Johan and I visited Friday afternoon for a few hours. Men were still setting things up, re-enactors still arriving after a week of work, but for the most part, there was a lot to see. I took a short tour and then spent some time talking to a lot of people. Apparently word had gotten out I was going to be there and several people were waiting to speak with me. That is always nice. I met old friends and new ones and gave a lot of research advice. I wonder how many more stories will be told now.
© 2018 World War II Research & Writing Center
Not only were there barracks rooms but rooms with tiny cells for prisoners. In most of the cells we saw, no light would enter once the prisoner’s door was closed. I cannot imagine being locked in one of these rooms for even five minutes. The energy in those rooms did not feel good.
After lunch there was a briefing conducted by Joe, a retired Army soldier who had been stationed in Germany for many years. He took command of the airmen and did an incredible job re-enacting a mission briefing for the families. One thing we should always remember about military research – no matter what war we are talking about – is there is always something new to learn. It doesn’t matter how many military reports you’ve read or veterans you’ve spoken to, there is always more to learn. Seemingly small details that played a big role in a service member’s day, missions, life, and death. I learned quite a lot listening to Joe speak.
The Mission Belle was a B-17 Bomber that crashed along the Lekdijk between Streefkerk and Nieuw-Lekkerland on 1 December 1943.
Several speeches were given to the families to describe the history of the Mission Belle, the formation of the foundation, the creation of the monument, and the day’s events. As an American who picks up only a few Dutch words, I was grateful my husband Johan was asked to translate the Dutch stories into English so the American families could understand what was being said.
Recently, Johan and I visited the 
My cousin James Privoznik is buried in the ABMC Luxembourg cemetery. The ABMC cemeteries have a much different atmosphere and energy than the National Veterans Cemeteries in the U.S. ABMC is strictly WWI or WWII. The graves are all the same – white marble crosses and some white marble Star of Davids. The energy of an ABMC cemetery focuses on, from my experiences, the stories of those men who died there in one war. A lot of history is contained in one cemetery.
We arrived at the museum and David greeted us and told us a little about the historical building the museum was housed in and took us upstairs to the museum. My initial thought that a museum that occupied the top floor of an old courthouse or firehouse could not be that large. Again, I was wrong. The space may not be national military museum size but it contains so many stories. It is unlike any other museum I’ve seen in the states or Europe.
The museum is run primarily by volunteers, veterans who man the desks, answers questions, educate through 
