General Patton buried here -Hamm Military Cemetery

Hamm Military Cemetery, outside Luxembourg City


Dan Widing at Hamm Military Cemetery, Luxembourg. General Patton's resting place.

It is near 5:00 PM, closing time. Dan is helping lower the flag.













General George S. Patton. World War II. After all his war activity,  many disagreed with his manner and methods. He is revered in Normandy (see France Road Ways), and we expected him to have been buried there. See his biography at http://www.generalpatton.com/biography. Or see the movie, "Patton."

The General is with thousands of American troops right here in Luxembourg, however. Without him, perhaps people like us, just driving around, would not make the side trip to Luxembourg at all. And we would have missed learning so much about this linchpin area. The location is so strategic, and has been for centuries.

Grave, General Patton, Luxembourg: Hamm Military Cemetery

We followed General Patton wherever we could find - and his final resting place is in this Hamm Military Cemetery just outside Luxembourg City.

 This had been his headquarters for a period of time. See http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/lx.php"> American Cemetery, Luxembourg His grave is set apart at the front, facing the 8000 graves of his troops.

Christmas 2006: When we read of the trucks of wreaths going to Arlington Cemetery this Christmas, 2006, and saw the pictures of them on the graves there, we thought of all the American service people buried in the huge European graveyards and no wreath program that we could find. Perhaps a few less for Arlington, and a few more to Europe's memorials. We are forgetting.

If you arrive at Hamm just before 5PM, maybe the caretaker will let you help lower the flag.

Patton died in a car accident. I understand that many people disagreed with him, and that he set his own course, but this looks like an exile. Attention should be paid.

Salute, General Patton. Off to the side now, but a giant.

Patton Liberated Plzen, the Czech Republic

Plzn, Pilsen, Pilzen CZ.  Tribute to General Patton,
.
We find so many tributes to the Americans liberating and fighting in France, Belgium, on and on. See France Road Ways.

Here is the monument at Plzen, the Czech Republic: Thank you, America, it says. But there were few wreaths in 2007. See http://www.radio.cz/en/article/65642.

See Czech Republic Road Ways; and The Places of Petr Ginz.
Eastern Europe. Can or do you feel loss of that image of Americans as willing to give their all for the downtrodden, without other motives overwhelming.

Luxembourg History - an Abstract through Coins

Here is a numismatist whose fine site focuses on the stories of money in many places, and explains the history of Luxembourg well - go to http://www.roth37.it/COINS/Lux/index.

Most of the site is in Italian, but click on "Abstract" when you have the opportunity and English will appear. http://www.roth37.it/COINS/Lux/abstract.html: the site person's objective --

"This work wants to show how Coinage can explain the History of a Country, showing how and when it was independent and when, on the contrary, he was subjected."

Summary from the site's abstract, for those who like to see the mixes that make modern cosmopolitan areas:

Luxembourg was occupied (Gauls, Germans, Caesar), became an Earldom, was upgraded to a Grand Duchy after the Earl became an Emperor and the Earldom passed to his heir, and the heir upgraded (Dukes being higher than Earls, Duke of Earl notwithstanding). "Engagistes" took over - French for people charged as governors for the sovereign (as when the sovereign is a minor?) and this often followed who owed whom which debts; then sovereigns gave-sold-gave-sold the country. So far we have Bohemians and Burgundians mostly. Then enter wars, ravaging, and a new player, Spain, who also held the Netherlands I think. Then it was passed by Spain to Austria, then Austria to France. Then to William of Orange, as part of the Netherlands. Then independence. Not for long. Occupied by Germany in WWI. After, Belgium wanted to annex Lux, but instead Lux established economic and not political union with Belgium. German Nazi occupation WWII. Freed (General Patton, buried there at Hamm Military Cemetary) and continuing independence (as a Grand Duchy??).

"Sometimes coins could explain it better than historiography, which is always written by the winners..." www.roth37.it/COINS/Lux/abstract.html

Vianden Castle, and a regular house today.

Vianden Castle, Luxembourg










Home, Luxembourg.



We saw many castles as we drove around, then chose Vianden for lunch - the town is post-card quaint, and the castle is beautifully restored. We sat at leisure just below the castle, and watched all the bikers who also happened along. For a site on the castles in Luxembourg, see www.luxembourg.co.uk/vianden.

Castles anywhere:  originated for defense. Choose any castle anywhere for a time of refreshment and watching the world. Luxembourg is a favorite spot for bikers - big machines on those winding roads, so be careful going around corners. Big boots stomping in the pubs for lunch. Pubs are best for inexpensive, fresh food, smaller portions than restaurants, and faster.

Home, Luxembourg

Regular modern houses: Orderly, and all very tidy. Is this a country where people are on time? T
hey seem very organized.