This has nothing to do with cooking but....WOW!!

[nylic76]

Hauntingly beautiful

"Liberation Day" and "Il Silenzio" in Holland: About six miles from Maastricht, in the Netherlands, lie buried 8,301 American soldiers who died in "Operation Market Garden" in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall winter of 1944-.
 Every one of the men buried in the cemetery, as well as those in the Canadian and British military cemeteries, has been adopted by a Dutch family who mind the grave, decorate it, and keep alive the memory of the soldier they have adopted. It is even the custom to keep a portrait of "their" American soldier in a place of honor in their home. Annually, on "Liberation Day," memorial services are held for "the men who died to liberate Holland." The day concludes with a concert. The final piece is always "Il Silenzio," a memorial piece commissioned by the Dutch and first played in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of Holland's liberation. It has been the concluding piece of the memorial concert ever since. This year the soloist was a 13-year-old Dutch girl, Melissa Venema, backed by André Rieu and his orchestra (the Royal Orchestra of the Netherlands). This beautiful concert piece is based upon the original version of taps and was composed by Italian composer Nino Rossi.

http://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissa-venema.htm

[spuds]

Awesome,like everything about this post.

[HighOnSmoke]

Beautiful post, thank you for sharing!

[sliding_billy]

Very nice.

[CDN Smoker]

Thanks for posting

[Wingman]

What a great story and wonderful performance.  Thank you.

[muebe]

I have family in Holland and this makes me very proud. Thanks for posting. Very cool!

[Pappymn]

What a great tradition!

[CANNON-MAN]

Thank you so mu h for posting this. We went to the Normandy beaches last year and loved the honor the soldiers that died in that conflict are shown. I commend the people of Holland for showing so much respect to the men that died for them. This tradition is just fantastic.
Kirby

[TwoPockets]

Thanks so much for posting. I was not aware of this tradition. I am glad that some Europeans realize that many Americans paid the ultimate price so they can enjoy the same freedoms we do.

[catinatree]

Great post !

[N. Ontario Smoker]

Couldn't hold the tears back on this one. Great post.

[hikerman]

Very beautiful, and haunting! Quite the talented young lady! I too, was not aware of this Dutch tradition. We hear so much of how we Americans are hated, it is so refreshing to see this and learn of the Dutch people honoring those who gave their lives, American,Canadian, and British soldiers. So many countries have forgotten the sacrifices these three nations have given for freedom.
And as Dee would say, "It's awful early to be peeling onions!"
Thank you for sharing!!!!

[deestafford]

It's amazing how the people of Northern Europe, and especially in that area, have been able to pass on from generation to generation the need to keep the respect alive of those who sacrificed for them to be free.  The sad thing is....there is more patriotism and respect shown for those who died and what they died for over than there is over here.  They teach more about WWII there than we do here.  Our young people can't even tell you who we fought in WWII.  We have become a bloated and soft America when it comes to heritage.  Dee

[deestafford]

Andre Rieu is one of the greatest showmen (and I mean that is the most positive and respectful way) of our time.  Not only does he do all the arranging for his orchestra but he designs the sets and the ladies clothing as well. Multi, multi talented individual.

I saw this young girl perform this song the first time it aired.

If you want to get the full effect of this performance I suggest you do the following tonight. Turn out all the lights in the room, start the song, close your eyes, as she is playing visualize your perceptions of what it was like landing on D-Day, and then sift your visualization to the green country side where the soldiers are buried beneath the row after row of white crosses stretch across the hillside.  I guarantee you will soak a hankerchief. I did this and it was a tremendously moving experience.

Dee