Soldiers support French Liberation Commemoration

***image1***Early morning travel was required. Nonetheless, the 21st Theater Sustainment Command Soldiers who made up the color guard and honor platoon for the Liberation Commemoration Ceremony in St. Avold, France, Oct. 25 did not mind.

The 21st TSC’s Special Troop Battalion color guard participated as did 20 Soldiers of the 66th Transportation Company, 39th Transportation Battalion, who formed the honor platoon.  Despite the 5 a.m. departure, 42 Soldiers from the 66th Trans. Co. volunteered to make the trip, which left 22 Soldiers who did not actively participate but came to pay their respects.

“Not everyone has the opportunity to attend and see something like this.  I am here to honor these dead Soldiers,” said Spc. Jesse Santos, a motor transportation operator with the 66th Trans. Co.

“Being here and seeing this huge cemetery makes you realize just how much our Soldiers have sacrificed.  I am proud to be here,” said Pvt. Ryan Motley, another 66th Trans. Co. motor vehicle operator.

It was all about respect. The young American Soldiers came to honor the U.S. Soldiers who gave their lives during the liberation of France. The French dignitaries, townspeople from St. Avold and numerous veterans did the same.

Many of the French veterans also took time to greet their American guests and thank them for their attendance and for the sacrifices of the Soldiers who fought so

gallantly. 

“I did not expect to be treated this nicely. People go out of their way to speak to us and to shake our hands,” said Sgt. Marcello Llana, a 66th Trans. Co. mechanic. “This is amazing. It makes you really proud to be a Soldier.”

“The ceremony was impressive, and the cemetery is absolutely beautiful. There is so much dedication, honor and respect on both sides,” said Pvt. Justin Pillion, 66th Trans. Co. motor transportation operator.

***image2***The World War II cemetery at St. Avold is the largest in Europe and is officially called the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial. It covers more than 113 acres and is the resting place of 10,489 American Soldiers and Airmen. Most of the Soldiers and Airmen buried there gave their lives during the advance to the Rhine and across Germany in the spring of 1945.

The cemetery is located three-quarters of a mile north of

St. Avold on Highway N-33. It is 17 miles southwest of Saarbrücken.