All is starting with a mountain bike recce of the itinerary with one or two teammates from my Bicycling team, sometime somewhat acrobatic. (around January)
At the brienfing, the organizator explain the plan of the march to the English reenactor group.
Early morning, the English reenactment group billeted with us at the Wanne Castel CP is assembling before to be trucked toward the Starting point. This group is participating each year to the march since about 20 years and is always growing in participation.
Our food ressuply truck is ready to go.
Lester SCHWARM, veteran of the 325 Glider Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division is arriving at the starting camp.
Many participants (around 1000) attended the march including a great number of American troops in Europe.
Joe Cicchinelli, veteran of the 551st PIBn walk to the ceremony at the 508PIR monument site.
Emile Lacroix, organizator and 82nd Airborne historian, accounts the battle of the retaking of the Thier-du-Mont hill by the 508 Parachute Infantry Regiment on January 07, 1945.
The Mayors of the towns of Lierneux and Vielsalm accompanied by two representatives of the town councils with the veteran Joe Cicchinelly and Lt. Colonel Maria Eoff (82 Airborne) were layning wreathes at the memorial.
The veteran Joe Cicchinelli and Lt Colonel Maria Eoff laying a wreath.
Other wreathes were presented by reenactors groups members.
The marchers begin by following a dirt road along the North side of the Thier-du-Mont hill.
Here like at several places along the march, trees had fallen across the paths during the January tempests.
Most marchers prefer to get round the obstacle by the side pastures.
Then the march cut across a field to reach the village of Goronne.
In Goronne the WWII vehicle convoy cross the marchers road.
The march is crossing the woods between Goronne and Arbrefontaine where the 505 PIR fought to retake Goronne. During those combats Lt. Col. Ben Vandervoort commanding the 2nd Battalion was severely wounded.
Groups after groups the marchers arrive at this first resuply point.
At this point, the marchers can find some coffee, refreshments, waffels etc...
It's also a good accasion to take a short rest.....
The leader of the English reenactment group assemble his men.
The support section of the organizator club starts to install the field kitchen and equipment at the farm to welcome the marchers.
And the marcher begins to gather in the yard for lunch time.
The marchers can find hot soup free and can purchase hamburgers, hot saussages etc..
Talking with the vetran Ray Fary from the 80th AA Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Div.
The veteran of the 551st PIBn, Joe Cicchinelly shows to the cameraman the door of the cellar in the yard of the Noirefontaine farm where he and his friends discovered 22 civilans included twin babies during the attack against the farm.
Joe poses at the bronze plaque fixed on the wall of the farm and remembering the attack of the 551st PIBn against the German occupying those buildings.
Emile Lacroix, Pascal Hainaut and Joe Ciccinelli prepare to lay flowers at the 551st PIB memorial plaque.
From left to right, some veterans of the 82nd Abn Div. participating at the march: Bill Tucker (505PIR), Joe Cicchinelli (551PIB), Emile Lacroix (Organizator), Lester Schwarm (325GIR), Ray Fary (80AA) and Jerry Payne (508PIR in Corea).
The family Cornelis whose members were hidden in the cellar during the assault against the farm by the 551PIB troopers, are posing with Joe.
Joe poses with a goup of reenactors coming each year from south France where the 551st PIB was parachuted during the landing there in August 1944 (operation Dragoon). Those men are members of an Association dedicated to the memory of the 551st and the commemorations of their battles in Europe.
Pascal Hainaut signes a book that he wrote from the war witnesses of Joe Cicchinelli.
The English reenactment group begins to regroup to resume the afternoon last part of the march.
The organizator makes the point on the map with the Veteran Jerry Payne (508PIR) and some marchers at the afternoon supply point.
Back at the Thier-du-Mont hill starting point.
Everybody comes at the field kitchen to taste a cup of hot wine.
Inside the tent the souvenir certificates are presented to the marchres as the veterans are signing their books.
A part of the Holland Chapter of the 82nd Airborne C-47 Club led by Father Gerard Thuring is posing with the Holland Embassy Militaty attaché Col. Paul Calbosand the two veterans, Ray Fary and Lester Schwarm.
The Holland Chapter of the 82nd Airborne C-47 Club (ours brother club) always well represented at the march. Here: Father Gerard Thuring, Marco Cillessen, Mrs. Calbos, Veteran Ray Fary, Colonel Paul Calbos (Militaty attaché Holland Embassy) and Veteran Lester Schwarm.
Father Thuring presents a book as gift to Emile Lacroix at the name of the Holland Chapter in aknowlegment for the organization of the march.
Elizabeth Kellogg, grand daughter of Ralph Boroughs of the 508PIR who fought here at the Thier-du -Mont hill poses with Emile and Freddy Van Put.
And the troopers of the huge British reenactment group are posing for a last picture.
Thomas Goode (USA) and Lt. Col. Maria Eoff (82Abn) address to the participants.....
.... as to thanks Emile lacroix and his team......
.... for the good organization and the succes of this 25th edition of the 82nd Airborne march.
Emile present and thanks the members of his team for the good work they performed since all this years and point out that the English reenactment group members are participating regularly since near 20 years.
And the leader of the English reenactment group presents a C-47 framed artist design to each member of the 82nd Airborne "All American" Belgian Ardennes Chapter of the C-47 Club, organizator of the event.
Big thanks to those people of the staff who worked for the success of the march.
b.jpg)
