Posted on Dec 14, 2015
COL Mikel J. Burroughs
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Have you seen how the Battle of the Bulge veterans keep memory alive, pass ceremony to next generation?

RP Members there has been several posts on the anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge anniversary, but Veterans of the battle used to have their own organization in Westmoreland County, but it was disbanded about two years ago because of a lack of members.

The group's remaining funds were given to Greensburg's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 33 to continue the tradition of holding a ceremony each year at the memorial.

“Them guys started dying off, and the VFW said they'd take it over, and they'd always do it,” said Joe Frank, a member of the VFW Honor Guard. “We're always going to do it, every year.”

http://www.stripes.com/news/veterans/battle-of-the-bulge-veterans-keep-memory-alive-pass-ceremony-to-next-generation-1.383917

Joseph A. Folino wore a crisp Army uniform and shiny black shoes as he placed a wreath by the Battle of the Bulge memorial Saturday at the National Guard Armory on Donohoe Road in Hempfield.

He has stood there many times before to commemorate the anniversary of one of World War II's most ferocious encounters. He used to be surrounded by dozens of his brothers in arms during these ceremonies, but on Saturday only two other veterans of the battle stood beside him.

“So many have passed on. There's nobody left. There's only about three of us,” he said.
Edited 9 y ago
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1SG Civil Affairs Specialist
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Edited 9 y ago
Very cool for the VFW to keep this tradition rolling along, as it was just getting too difficult for the few old men left to do on their own.

My grandfather was there at the Bulge, leading his battalion of panzers on the far right flank of the advance. He didn't talk about the war much, but he was proud of that attack, having met all of his unit's objectives. They were forced to retreat on foot, when expected seizures of supplies along the way failed to materialized and they ran out of fuel.
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CPT Jack Durish
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Edited 9 y ago
I love collecting the stories of veterans. All have provided grist for my story mill. A couple of veterans from the Battle of the Bulge inspired "The Ghosts of Christmas Past"
http://www.jackdurish.com/7/post/2014/05/ghosts-of-christmas-past.html

It's been a while since I wrote this and a question occurred as I reread it just now: What ghosts haunt us? I have many. Have you?
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PO1 John Miller
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
Thanks for sharing. It's awesome that the VFW is doing this. This is another reason for me to start becoming active in my local chapter (I am a lifetime member after all, LOL).

This reminds me of Sons of the American Revolution. Obviously there are no survivors of that war, so these men carry on the tradition.
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