This morning, Michel de Trez, author and historian (left with Dennis and me), and his friend Françoise picked us up at the B & B to drive us to the December 44 Museum in La Gleize to see Dennis’ father’s WWII paratrooper helmet and other artifacts. Michel had arranged for Dennis to be interviewed by local and national television and he appeared on the national news that evening. Holding the helmet was an emotional moment for Dennis, “I can feel my dad!” Dennis looked at a collection of Michel de Trez’s photos and was able to identify Pvt. Ernest R. Blanchard in several of them.
After the interview, we roamed the museum. When Dennis’ father had talked about fighting at Bastogne, he really meant near there; he actually fought in La Gleize, as records and photos depict. In the museum, there is a Tiger II German tank, which shot 88mm shells. Dennis’ father used to tell him that “the French had hedgerows and the Belgians had the 88”, both which drove him nuts. Looking at the German’s largest tank, you can imagine just how terrifying it must have been for those fighting against it.
Dennis is standing by the Tiger II tank, the only one still on its battlefield, now positioned in front of the museum; there are only nine other surviving tanks.
If you come to Europe, don’t miss visiting the December 44 Museum to really understand the Battle of the Bulge.
Very emotional. I bet it was a thrill for Dennis, as well as your hosts.
Liz,
As well as for the interviewers…who also choked up at Dennis’ emotions.
I loved getting the chance to see you both on television. I’m glad that Dad had the opportunity to see all of this and to hold Grandpa’s helmet. I’m sure it was a very meaningful day for him.
I am happy you had this experience, Dennis. Let’s hope future fathers, sons and now daughters will see the end of war.
That was a wonderful thing for Dennis to experience since his father couldn’t be there. I’m sure it made Dennis feel as if his father were there with him and he was looking down on him with a big proud smile. It will be something he will never forget. It chokes me up just thinking about it.
The tank is amazing. One of my dad’s sons (Dad was married twice) was in the Korean war and drove a tank. He’s a lot older than me. My mom was twenty years younger than Dad, and I wasn’t born until 1950 so I don’t remember that war, but I have a picture with Wayne (my 1/2 brother) sitting on the tank. The one Dennis is standing in front of looks bigger than the one Wayne drove in the 1950’s.
Donna Jean,
Your brother must have been very courageous–driving tanks was a very dangerous duty, sitting ducks for targets.