European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 17, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 4 the stars and stripes Battle of the bulge saturday december 17,1994 belgians rally to Parade for veterans byed Reavis staff writer Bastogne Belgium the biting cold could t keep Marie Lipstadt Pinhas away on this Day when liberation was being celebrated with the americans. Vav she stood at the Metal sidewalk bar Rier bundled in a White coat smiling and holding a sign while waiting for the Parade of Battle of the bulge veterans. Her sign read thank you . S & Al lie forces you liberated me from concentration Camp in 1945." on the Back of the sign she had the names of units that freed her from the German death Camp in Turckheim a Varia on april 27, 1945 the 7th army the 16th corps and the 10th army div. The Day i was freed she said i walked the streets lost. A very tall i said something to me i did t under stand. I showed him my tattooed concentration Camp number she recalled. He took my hand and marched me straight into a clothing store where i tried on dresses until we found one that he still had a War to fight but took time to get a 14-year-old out of her rags and into her first Post War dress. He looked at me with satisfaction and said ,1 and was i Hope someday to find him if he is still alive that s Why i m standing Friday was a Good Day for her to come to Bastogne because hundreds of Ameri can veterans were present to co Mem Morate the 50th anniversary of the last major German offensive of the War thousands of belgians crowded the streets defying the Nasty rain and chilling cold some waving belgian and american flags to Greet the american vets who re turned to Parade. Hundreds of belgians dressed in authentic i world War ii dress strolled through the main streets or drove the half Century old . Army vehicles that they pamper like babies. Women dressed in Vintage 1940s-Era women s army corps or american red Cross uniforms walked with Pride through the streets. Johan Van Acker came All the Way from Antwerp with friends in 20 world War ii . Vehicles. In Bastogne they met with other collectors and exhibited 70 Vintage War vehicles. Belgians Marie Lipstadt Pinhas and Andre Moneaux hold us signs at the Arr � a no a ing . Soldiers and other Allied troops who liberated nazi concent Van Acker not Only had the uniform of a stars and stripes correspondent but he also carried in his pocket a yellowed copy of stripes dated dec. 31, 1944, with an article by correspondent Jimmy Cannon dateline Bastogne. He was Here Van Acker said with admiration. Right Here when the fight ing was going in the morning hundreds crowded into St. Pierre Church where a mass was said for the soldiers and civilians who died to break the siege of Bastogne. Official Bel Gian statistics claim that 80,000 Ameri cans and 123,000 German combatants were killed along with 2,500 belgians and 6,000 Luxembourger. At 3 p.m., belgian King Albert ii and . Ambassador to the United nations Madeleine Albright Laid a Wreath at the memorial of Bastogne in mar Dasson located just Northeast of the City. The ceremony was followed by the playing of taps by v corps soldiers a howitzer Salute and remarks by Albright by the supreme Allied commander Europe . Army Gen. George a. Joul wan and by retired it. Gen. Harry Kinnard a Veteran who was in Bastogne when it was surrounded by germans. Albright began her speech with a per Sonal recollection of her family s flight from nazi occupation in Czechoslovakia. It to Mil sought and found Refuge i England she said. I was just a Little girl but in my heart even then i devel oped an abiding respect for those willing to fight for Freedom and i fell in love with americans in Joulwan thanked the veterans who sat wrapped in blankets against the icy winds for the valor they had shown 50 years ago. Vehicles run on Gas infantrymen run on guts he reminded them. Kinnard 79, thanked the people of the Bastogne Region for giving american sol Diers food and White sheets for Camou Flage during the Battle of the bulge. Kin Nard who became a full colonel at age 29, is credited with the quote Hole in the doughnut to describe the situation of . Forces in Bastogne when they were encircled by the germans. About 400 american and belgian vet Erans joined in the Parade that went through the Middle of town to City Hall. There the veterans and others were bombarded by walnuts thrown from the Balcony by City and military officials. In the evening the City conducted a sound and Light re enactment of the siege of Bastogne
