[Leica] Nathan's PAW 38: Arnhem 60 years

[kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)]

a very moving tribute Nathan....   your main is 
quiet and beautiful....having just returned from 
France, where, as you know.. every tiny village 
has its memoprial to the dead of WW I  and II, 
IndoChina,  North Africa.....I am especially aware 
of the tremendous losses of war, especially when 
it is being fought on your own soil...

here in the US it may take sixty years to openly 
honor our own,  including those that died yesterday.

Steve

Nathan Wajsman wrote:

> This week marks the 60th anniversary of the battle of Arnhem, a valiant 
> if ultimately unsuccessful attempt by Allied paratroopers to land deep 
> in enemy territory and capture three bridges over the Rhine. In the end 
> they did not succeed but they did liberate the southern part of the 
> Netherlands several months before the rest of the country was free.
> 
> The anniversary is marked every year, but of course this time it is a 
> round one, and given that the youngest among the veterans are now in 
> their 80s, probably the last round anniversary where significant numbers 
> of them will be around to participate. This morning there was a very 
> moving ceremony at the Commonwealth cemetery in Oosterbeek, with Prince 
> Charles, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and various other dignitaries 
> in attendance. I watched it on TV. Yesterday, I went with my children to 
> pay my own private tribute to these brave men, and all pictures this 
> week are from there.
> 
> A common sight at the cemetery--not all bodies could be identified:
> http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2004/2004_38.jpg
> 
> Lots of veterans and local people were around; in the background you see 
> the chairs being set up for today's events:
> http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2004/2004_38alt1.jpg
> 
> A woman in thoughts at a Polish grave (there are 79 Polish airmen who 
> were part of the RAF buried here):
> http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2004/2004_38alt2.jpg
> 
> A British veteran was walking around, placing flowers on selected graves:
> http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2004/2004_38alt3.jpg
> 
> Face of a hero:
> http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2004/2004_38alt4.jpg
> 
> A Jewish grave:
> http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2004/2004_38alt5.jpg
> 
> The Polish came out in force too (the text reads: Poland to her defenders):
> http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2004/2004_38alt6.jpg
> 
> And for our Canadian friends:
> http://www.nathanfoto.com/paw/2004/2004_38alt7.jpg
> 
> I know I posted from this spot about 3-4 months ago, then the place was 
> empty. This time it was crowded, but still quite poignant.
> 
> The complete PAW index is at:
> http://www.nathanfoto.com/indexpaw2004.html
> and comments/critique are always welcome and appreciated.
> 
> Nathan