American GIs Liberate Huy, Belgium from Nazis
65th Anniversary of Liberation from World War II German Occupation
Sep 8, 2009
Sixty-five years have passed since they first came, but the Belgian city of Huy and its inhabitants have been forever grateful to their World War II liberators, the most honoured soldiers of the United States of America.
65th Anniversary of the World War II Liberation of Huy by American Forces
To celebrate its 65th anniversary of liberation, the city of Huy mounted a heartwarming ceremony that paid homage to their American liberators, and to M. Edgar D'Hallendre, a former World War II prisoner, who was incarcerated at the Fort of Huy, then the command station of the Nazi German occupying forces.
In her speech, Mme Micheline Toussaint-Richardeau, Honorable Mayor of Huy, profusely thanked the American soldiers who consecrated their youth to Huy, fighting against the enemy, so that the city and its people would be free again. She also mentioned that soldiers from Congo and other former Belgian colonies were represented in the Allied Army Forces.
BENELUX, the European Union and Schengen Treaty
Mme Toussaint-Richardeau also explained how and why the BENELUX, the European Union and Schengen Treaty exist. After World War II, Belgium painfully rose from the ashes. It was evident that cooperation among nations was needed, if peace had to prevail, but international organisations did not exist yet at that time.
In 1948, the BENELUX agreement was carried out, with Belgium, the Netherlands and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg as members. This was followed by the signing of the Schengen Treaty and the founding of the European Union. The creation of all these organisations is meant to prevent another catastrophic event of World War II magnitude. Twinning between cities were also encouraged, with the city of Huy celebrating soon its 50th anniversary twinning with Compiegne, France, and 45 years with Vianden, Luxembourg.
Homage to M. Edgar D'Hallendre, Former World War 2 Prisoner
With the advance of the American liberating forces, the Nazi Germans, who were stationed at the hilltop Fort of Huy, left in haste, leaving war documents and prisoner, then 22 years old, M. Edgar D'Hallendre. Mme Toussaint-Richardeau related how Edgar warmly welcomed the American liberators, how he relished his discovery of the chewing gum, of chicory and other things American.
M. D'Hallendre, in his message, thanked the people of Huy, for the honour given to him, but he also reminded everybody to remain vigilant because there are still people living in this present world, who are dabbling in atomic bombs.
A photographic exposition titled 'Huy, La Liberation,' is on at the Musee Communal de Huy, old Couvent des Freres Mineurs, until the 4th of October 2009.
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