The 80th Anniversary of Market Garden
The 80th Anniversary of Market Garden
Remembering those who fought and died in the greatest airborne invasion in history.
At approximately 1300 hours on September 17th, 1944, my grandparents and their children had just made their Sunday Mass walk back from Saint Lambertus Catholic Church in downtown Veghel, to their makeshift home on the Noordkade, when they heard an incredibly loud sound off in the distance.
They had no clue their lives were about to change after five long hard years of extreme suffering and fear under the Nazi regime.
As hundreds of aircraft and parachutes started to fill the sky above, my grandfather started shouting, “Amerikanen! Amerikanen!” It was the largest airborne invasion in history and a memory they would never forget!
Over the next two weeks they would be caught in the crossfire between the men of the 101st Airborne Division and units of the German Wehrmacht and Fallschirmjaeger, often escaping death by seconds or inches as bullets flew and bombs burst all around them.
The fighting around their home (which was also a place for the resistance) was fierce, causing them to seek shelter in foxholes or a large basement filled with dozens of other Dutch people. But they didn’t care because they knew absolute freedom was near.
Interestingly their memories of Market Garden were less about the battle for Veghel and the surrounding towns and always focused on the Screaming Eagles themselves. They absolutely loved these men, not only because they had risked everything to liberate them, but because the paratroopers treated my family with such care and respect.
They were heroes and gentlemen.
These family stories from World War II, especially that particular day in September, will forever be a huge part of my life as well. I’ve been entrusted with these memories and I hold them close to my heart.
It’s because of this personal family history I chose to serve in the military, why I always wear Screaming Eagles apparel, and launched this website. It’s my way of honor all of their legacies and showing my gratitude for the very freedom I’m able to enjoy.
Celebrating Market Garden in the Netherlands
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to participate in the 80th anniversary of Market Garden this year as planned, but I’m extremely grateful to have attended the 75th anniversary back in 2019, where I was finally able to meet and give thanks to many men who liberated the Netherlands.
The celebrations were incredible and the experience was priceless!
Dozens of World War II Veterans were present and they were welcomed in a fashion I’ve never seen before. There was drinking and dancing, messages of hope and thankfulness, and hundreds of re-enactors doing airborne jumps from C-47s just like they did decades before.
Then there was the sharing of sad and difficult memories these brave men endured and of friends they lost.
These men who survived were very humble, not liking to be called heroes. They all said the real heroes were the men who died in the battles as they fought all the way from the beaches of Normandy until the day they finally reached Hitler’s Eagles Nest to end the war.
And as my grandparents and their children did in 1944, I came to love each and every one of the guys I had the opportunity to share a beer with or spend time visiting with.
While there are many paratroopers and soldiers I could mention, there are a handful I connected with on a deeper level because of where they fought.
Staff Sergeant Tom Rice, 501st PIR, fought to protect the bridge only 50 meters from grandparent’s home in Veghel.
PFC Jim “Pee Wee” Martin, 506th PIR, fought in Veghel and constantly talked about how much he loved the Dutch people.
PFC Gene Gilbreath, 506th PIR, fought in Veghel and he was the first paratrooper my mother was ever able to hug and thank for what they did.
Private Howard Buford, 501st PIR, fought in Veghel and shared some incredible memories with me about that time.
However, it’s also important for me to say that regardless of where any of our World War II Veterans served, they all mean the world to me. 🇺🇸
The Dutch Remember and Honor Those Who Fought
I cannot write an article about Market Garden without also mentioning the valiant and wonderful efforts of the Dutch! 🇳🇱
For the past 80 years, people in the Nederlands have held a very strong conviction of honoring their liberators and doing it in such a way, that quite honestly, puts my own country of the United States to shame.
Every year on May 4th, they observe two minutes of silence to remember the sacrifices made for their freedom, then on May 5th, they celebrate the day they were freed from German occupation.
Then every year in September they also hold two weeks of commemoration events for Market Garden along the routes these battles took place. There are concerts, re-enactments, and thousands of people lining the streets as dozens of World War II vehicles make their way along “Hells Highway.”
But the most special and meaningful way they honor the Allied Veterans is at the national cemeteries.
The Dutch people adopt the graves of the fallen soldiers, taking great care of their final resting place as a way to thank them for their sacrifices. They will bring flowers, place photos of those who are buried, and decorate the graveside for many holidays like Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, Remembrance Day, Liberation Day, and even Christmas. Plus some families even correspond with relatives of the deceased even though they are thousands of miles away.
Finally there are my Dutch friends and colleagues like Jos Groen and Ronald Stassen who give so much of their time towards research and documentation of these men who fought. Their efforts keep the legacies alive!
I give much thanks for these efforts.
There are so many things I could continue write about Market Garden, but as the 80th Anniversary is now in full swing in the Netherlands, I’d recommend visiting these awesome people on Facebook as they share photos and memories of this year’s event:
101st Airborne Division (Official Page)
Please feel free to comment. Share your memories or stories about Market Garden. It would make this even more special.
Freedom is never free. Lest we forget!