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70 years ago, in a dark and snowy wood

| 23 Dec 2014 | 01:33
    Battle of the Bulge 70th anniversary commemoration at the Galleria. From left: Starting from left, Dan Depew, Wallkill Town Supervisor; Major Shauna Hann, West Point; a member of Rolling Thunder Vietnam Veterans group; Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Wissner, bugler from West Point; M/Sgt. Mary Kaye Messenger, soloist from West Point; Brig. Gen. NYG (Ret.) Eliot Herman; NYS Senator Bill Larkin; Veteran Ralph Ousterhoudt; County Executive Steve Neuhaus; Veteran Vincent Marino; Deputy Vincent Iannuzzi of the Orange County Sheriff's Department; Veteran and former P.O.W. Harvey Horn; and Corporal Spencer Sutherland and Staff Sergeant Nigel Balgobin from the Orange County Sheriff's Office (Photo by Ginny Privitar)
    Battle of the Bulge 70th anniversary commemoration at the Galleria. From left: Starting from left, Dan Depew, Wallkill Town Supervisor; Major Shauna Hann, West Point; a member of Rolling Thunder Vietnam Veterans group; Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Wissner, bugler from West Point; M/Sgt. Mary Kaye Messenger, soloist from West Point; Brig. Gen. NYG (Ret.) Eliot Herman; NYS Senator Bill Larkin; Veteran Ralph Ousterhoudt; County Executive Steve Neuhaus; Veteran Vincent Marino; Deputy Vincent Iannuzzi of the Orange County Sheriff's Department; Veteran and former P.O.W. Harvey Horn; and Corporal Spencer Sutherland and Staff Sergeant Nigel Balgobin from the Orange County Sheriff's Office (Photo by Ginny Privitar)
    Members of the 2nd Infantry Division struggle to survive in the snow during the Battle of the Bulge.
    Members of the 2nd Infantry Division struggle to survive in the snow during the Battle of the Bulge.
    Rabbi Gary Loeb of Monroe Temple of Liberal Judaism offered prayers. (Photo by Ginny Privitar)
    Rabbi Gary Loeb of Monroe Temple of Liberal Judaism offered prayers. (Photo by Ginny Privitar)
    Wallkill Supervisor Dan Depew; Consul General of Luxembourg M. Jean-Claude Knebeler; Gen. Eliot Hermon; NYS Senator Bill Larkin and Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus (Photo by Ginny Privitar)
    Wallkill Supervisor Dan Depew; Consul General of Luxembourg M. Jean-Claude Knebeler; Gen. Eliot Hermon; NYS Senator Bill Larkin and Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus (Photo by Ginny Privitar)
    Christian Farrell, director of the Veterans Service Agency. Behind him is Brig. Gen., Ret., Eliot S. Hermon. (Photo by Ginny Privitar)
    Christian Farrell, director of the Veterans Service Agency. Behind him is Brig. Gen., Ret., Eliot S. Hermon. (Photo by Ginny Privitar)
    Seated, Eileen Pileggi and M.Sgt. Mary Kaye Messenger of West Point, who sang the National Anthem. (Photo by Ginny Privitar)
    Seated, Eileen Pileggi and M.Sgt. Mary Kaye Messenger of West Point, who sang the National Anthem. (Photo by Ginny Privitar)
    Members of the service doffed their caps during prayer (Photo by Ginny Privitar)
    Members of the service doffed their caps during prayer (Photo by Ginny Privitar)

By Ginny Privitar
MIDDLETOWN — During a frigid Christmas season 70 years ago, Americans were fighting and dying in the Battle of the Bulge. It was the largest battle on the western front in World II. American soldiers bore the brunt of the German attack, with 19,000 Americans killed, 47,500 wounded, and 23,000 captured or missing. The battle claimed more lives than any other battle in a war that claimed more lives than any other war, right up to the present day. It was credited with turning the war around.

A few Americans veterans of that bloody battle still live today. Some of them were able to attend an anniversary commemoration held Dec. 14 at the Galleria at Crystal Run in Middletown. The occasion was somber, with attendees awed still by the sacrifices Americans made during the campaign, which lasted from Dec. 16, 1944, to Jan. 25, 1945.

Brig. General NYG (Ret.) Eliot S. Hermon served as the master of ceremonies. Local dignitaries, including New York State Senator Bill Larkin, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus, and Wallkill Town Supervisor Dan Depew were on hand. Monsieur Jean-Claude Knebeler, Consul General of Luxembourg, also attended.

Rabbi Gary Loeb gave the invocation and benediction. Veterans, members of State Police Troop F, representatives from West Point and the Orange County’s Sheriff’s office, and other groups and members of the public were present.

Many Christmas shoppers passed by, swept up in the holiday bustle that is the prerogative of peace. Had they ever heard of the Battle of the Bulge? Did they know heroes were among them that day?

For the full text of General Harmon's speech, please see "Driving the final nail in Hitler's coffin": http://bit.ly/1zuHeV2