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World
War II Combat Glider Pilots Virtual Memorial - PAGE 2
50TH
ANNIVERSARY CEREMONIES COMMEMORATING OPERATION MARKET GARDEN
In September 1994, the Dutch and Belgian Governments, and the many communities
involved in the fighting in September 1944, held 50th anniversary ceremonies to remember Operation Market Garden,
the Allied airborne invasion of the Low Countries that marked the beginning of
their liberation from five years of Nazi occupation. Many of the
Allied veterans - Glider Pilots from America and the UK, surviving American,
British and Polish paratroopers, and soldiers of the British Thirtieth Corps -
returned to remember the operation and pay their respects to comrades who died
in combat and to those who are no longer among us.
This page displays photos and materials from some of the ceremonies and events
the grateful liberated people of The Netherlands and Belgium staged to honor
their liberators. Many new memorials were dedicated and each day of the
week-long remembrance featured ceremonies at these locations. We had the pleasure of accompanying members of the
National WWII Glider Pilots Association on their several day tour of The
Netherlands from our hotel headquarters in Groesbeek, near Nijmegen. The
outpouring of hospitality and gratitude by the people of The Netherlands was
overwhelming. Dutch friends tell us that this period of their history is
taught in detail to all school children. Everywhere we went, when the
people became aware of the presence of the WWII Glider Pilots, they came out,
sometimes by the thousands, to welcome the returning veterans.
General
Gavin Monument "Mission Accomplished" Groesbeek, Holland.
Unveiling
of General Gavin Monument by Mrs. Gavin, daughters and grandchild, June 12, 1994.
General
Gavin Monument, Groesbeek, Holland, September 1994
 George
Brennan, National Representative of the National WWII Glider Pilots Association,
Toon van Meurs, Dutch Resistance Fighter (who helped hide the aircrews and
Glider Infantry of two gliders that came down in the area), and Lt. Colonel Nick
Nicholls, Chairman of the British Glider Pilot Regimental Association, unveil
the Silent Wings Memorial, Den Dungen, The Netherlands - September 1994.
Photo courtesy of Jos Korsten.
Silent
Wings Memorial Den Dungen, The Netherlands
Base
of Silent Wings Memorial with inscription. Designed by Jos Korsten and
erected by a committee of the citizens of the region chaired by Mr. Korsten.
The
Drop Zone Memorial, Holland.
101st
Airborne Memorial, Holland.
82nd
Airborne Memorial, "Klein Amerika," (Little America) Groesbeek,
Holland, the 82nd's drop zone on the outskirts of Nijmegen
 Memorial
to the Polish First Independent Parachute Brigade, Arnhem. This brigade,
under the command of Major
General Stanislaw Sosabowski, was composed of Poles who had escaped
Nazi occupation of Poland.
Chelbolton
Parish Council Hall, England. RAF Chelbolton was one of the fields from
which Operation Market Garden was staged. Dedicated June 12, 1994.
President
of 9th Air Force Association and British Army Airborne Glider Pilot
Representative at the dedication of the memorial stone and plaque at RAF
Chelbolton.
British
Airborne Memorial near General Browning's headquarters
 From a memorial at St.
Lidwina Hospital, Schijndel, Holland,
a Catholic Maternity hospital where the brave nuns and staff hid and cared for
wounded Allied airborne personnel at great risk to their own lives. These
brave and selfless people shared all they had with the Allied wounded, including
their meager food and medical supplies, and literally, their own blood.
Nuns with the same blood type as the wounded routinely provided direct
transfusions, a particularly difficult sacrifice when food and adequate
nourishment had been insufficient for years.
Memorial
to the Mother Superior and staff of St. Lidwina Hospital commemorating their
brave work in the Dutch Resistance in hiding and caring for downed and wounded
Allied airmen and soldiers. This unique and fitting memorial depicts a
mother hen defending her chicks from a predatory hawk. It was unveiled by
members of the National WWII Glider Pilots Association in 1984.
Interior
of the Chapel at St. Lidwina Hospital, Schijndel, The Netherlands.
 Members
of the National WWII Glider Pilots Association in formation during Market Garden
50th anniversary ceremonies held in Nijmegen, Holland.
82nd
Airborne Troopers participating in the memorial ceremonies, Nijmegen, Holland,
1994.
82nd
Airborne Choir in WWII uniforms singing at ceremonies at U.S. Military
Cemetery, Margraten, The Netherlands.
Taps
at U.S. Military Cemetery Margraten, The Netherlands.
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