In 2004 a young Dutch man (L) had a dream. He wanted to organize a European Reunion for Easy Company. Easier said than done. Many were very skeptic but he got to work.

Finally he found a sponsor in CHRYSLER JEEP© so his plan could be realized. One problem after the other came on his path but by coincidence he met two people who also had a dream they wanted to realize:

To erect a memorial for the Easy Company members who were killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge near Bastogne.

In December 2004, Marion van Hellemond and Marco Kilian (below) met Earl McLung and Shifty Powers in Bastogne by coincidence. They promised them to realize a memorial near the Bois Jacques in Bastogne. Marco, a Dutch War veteran (Bosnia) got to work and together with his wife and Philip Jan they started to realize both their dreams.

Philip Jan van Sandwijk

It's 2005 and nobody believes they will succeed before June. Including the President of the Easy Company Association (Herb Suerth) has his doubts. But they don't know the Dutch yet. By coincidence Marco and Marion meet two other Dutch men who have been friends with the Easy Company veterans for some years already: Steph Leenhouwers, who has some experience as the bus driver for Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours and Peter van de Wal ( webmaster from this website) Both offered their help. Though it was only 4 weeks before "D-Day" it gave Herb Suerth some confidence because both Steph and Peter are well known by the veterans and their families.

So go for it..

On June 3rd, 17 veterans and their n.o.k. arrived at the Airport in Paris. Between 6.30 am and 12.30 p.m. they arrived with different flights at different gates. A hell of a job to gather in a nearby hotel where the bus for Normandy was waiting to bring them to Le Chateau de L'Isle-Marie in Normandy for a dinner in an Army tent, build in the castle garden by Marco. (below)

Marion van Hellemond and Marco Kilian
Don and Irene Malarkey
fltr: William Wingett - Buck Taylor- Herb Suerth
fltr: Philip Jan van Sandwijk - Steph Leenhouwers and Marco Kilian. The veterans are in Europe now so time to relax, at least for the time being.....
Frank Perconte and James Madio the actor who portrays Frank in the mini series Band of Brothers.©
Of course we had to call attention to the sponser (l) but also to the 101st Airborne. These 5 military would assist us during our stay in Normandy to protect the veterans from too obtrusive fans.

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These photos were taken by Peter van de Wal. I assert the moral right to be recognized as the photographer and the owner of these images in any form. If you wish to use these photos for noncommercial purposes I consent to such use as long as the source of the photos is clearly acknowledged in the same publication as the photos you wish to reproduce.

Peter van de Wal ©