Diekirche - Military Museum

Large National Museum of Military History in Diekirch. See it at http://www.nat-military-museum.lu/, and at http://www.luxembourg.co.uk/NMMH/. See the exhibits here, http://www.luxembourg.co.uk/NMMH/show.html

All is not benign.  They also were selling reproductions of American soldier dog tags there - we hope they were only reproductions. Even seeing fakes for sale is unsettling. Families, be prepared.

There is also a General Patton Memorial Museum, see http://www.luxembourg.co.uk/NMMH/patton.html. This is open seasonally, July 1-September 15 - now, surely someone can sponsor longer open times. Take up a collection. Patton deserves better. July 1!  We were there in May. Check these dates out, but there is plenty else.

Ettelbruck

Dan Widing with General Patton, Ettelbruck, Luxembourg
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Ettelbruck. The statue of Patton is off to the side, a busy road in front - poor location for parking and seeing. Take the time to see the view he has. He is facing back to Belgium and the Bastogne, binoculars in hand. See www.luxembourg.co.uk/NMMH/patton.

Ettelbruck means "Attila's Bridge" - Attila dealt the final blow to the Roman legions here. Luxembourg: from old German, Lucilinburhuc or "little fortress" - a castle overlooking the Alzetter River. See ://www.everyculture.com/Ja-Ma/Luxembourg.html

Do take time to read the history of Luxembourg - its location in the mountains put it at trade crossroads, Paris to Triere, Metz to Aachen, and the surrounding areas were determined to safeguard their economic interests. Charlemagne brought in the Franks, Luxembourg's territory was whittled away until finally nobody could conquer their castle-cave-cliff stronghold. That remained. Read the detailed history at at://www.frommers.com/destinations/luxembourg/0107020044.html

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,
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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 City - an ancient fortress cliff

Luxembourg City, Walls

Do not miss Luxembourg if you are in the Ardennes, or at Bastogne, Belgium, for Battle of the Bulge matters related to WWI and WWII. It is close.

You need not do more than an overnight, if you are pressed for time and get an early start for the first day. Pay some tribute to General Patton, buried here at Hamm Military Cemetery outside Luxembourg City. See worldatwar.net/nations/luxembourg/narrative. See castles, then spend an overnight in Luxembourg City at least.

In Luxembourg City, there are the city walls with the old town inside.

More blogs about Luxembourg Road Ways.