Memorial Day in Belgium

All around Belgium on Memorial Day the Belgians come out in force to thank the United States for their contribution in World War I and II. It is very moving and never before have those two wars seemed so personal to me as they do now that we've been living here. We are right near so many important battlefields and the history is not forgotten.

So we went to visit Flanders Field (a World War I cemetery) this past Memorial Day to see what it was all about. Military from Belgium and the United States were there as well as marching bands and even a children's choir.

It is quite moving to walk around the cemetery and see each cross with a soldier's name on it. Some had a picture with flowers. It really brought it home how many people gave their lives for freedom.

So typical of Belgian weather, the day started out warm and sunny and just as the Belgian Children's Choir got up to sing the Star Spangle Banner, it started to down pour! The singing was so moving. Every year the kids of the town are taught the Star Spangle Banner and sing it for this ceremony. They waved American and Belgian flags and boy were they troopers through that down pour and lightening storm. It made me proud to be an American, and I haven't felt that way in a while.

And here is another trooper! The umbrella became useless and as our friends exclaimed "I don't think this umbrella is even doing anything any longer" as we wadded out of the cemetery in ankle deep water!