Photo By Jim Dresbach | James “Maggie” Megallas sits in the front row of the crowd in anticipation of an...... read more read more
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, Va. - King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier June 1 in part of a commemoration to honor American service members who fought in the European theater during World War II more than 70 years ago.
The royal couple was accompanied by Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commanding general, Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, and segments of 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) and The U.S. Army Band, “Pershing’s Own,” participated in the morning ceremony.
A special group of Americans sat in seats of honor at the ceremony. Representing the United States’ home front and on-the-ground World War II fighting forces were factory-working women, also known as Rosies or Rosie the Riveters, and veterans who fought to regain Dutch soil.
Don Bertino was a 19-year-old Soldier when he went to war in Europe. Now approaching his 91st birthday, he was in the front row for the wreath-laying ceremony.
He remembered one key aspect of serving in Holland.
“Mud was everywhere,” Bertino said in a prepared statement attained through the Dutch embassy. “And in the winter, it just got worse.”
Following the ceremony, Willem-Alexander and Máxima greeted the American women and men who assisted in liberating the Netherlands and took a tour of the Memorial Amphitheatre Display Room and presented a gift to the collection on behalf of the Dutch people.
To conclude their ANC tour, the royal couple walked to the gravesites of two Medal of Honor recipients: Audie Murphy and Bobbie Brown. Both Murphy and Brown fought in Europe during World War II.
“They wanted to pay their respects to Americans who fought to liberate their country on this 70th anniversary of the end of World War II,” said ANC Historian Stephen Carney, who accompanied the couple on the final leg of the royal visit. “Since the graves of Audie Murphy and Bobbie Brown are within walking distance of the amphitheater, they wanted to pay their respects to two Medal of Honor recipients.”
| Date Taken: | 06.01.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.05.2015 16:13 |
| Story ID: | 165646 |
| Location: | ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 43 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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