October 23, 2009

RE: Remagen (Germany) Plaque Dedication Ceremony/9th Inf. Div. Association

Dear Sons and Daughters Auxiliary Members:

We are planning a simple one day event on March 8, 2010 to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the crossing of the Ludendorff Bridge in Remagen, Germany. At this service we intend to unveil and dedicate a bronze plaque honoring the members of the 9th Infantry Division at the Friedensmuseum Brücke von Remagen (Freedom Museum Bridge at Remagen) for their significant and heroic role in the Remagen Bridgehead Expansion, March 8-24, 1945.

We would like to extend an invitation to all 9th Infantry veterans, their families and other interested persons to this event. Since time is short, we are initially emailing members of S/D Auxiliary since most of us have email addresses. More specific information will be forthcoming in the next “Octofoil” and “Octofoil Legacy” newsletters (January).

To help in planning the service, it would be very useful to know how many people might be interested in attending this event. All travel plans, expenses and accommodations will be the responsibility of the attendee(s). If there is a large enough group, we may be able to secure a Remagen hotel where we all could stay for a night or two plus host a dinner event after the ceremony.

Please email (or call me) if this event is of interest to you or your family and approximately how many people might be in your party. We need a tentative count by November 15th or we will assume that you and your family are not interested in attending.

Thats nice Doug. Are you planning on going? I thought of you yesterday when Kat Lisa Marie Jonelle & I were sightseeing in Chicago. The Tribune Tower has a stone on the tower from Remagen Bridge. I took a picture of it and will post it later. Have you ever been there? Its an amazing thing to see all the stones from all over the world!

Doug, if you plan to come across the sea for this event, please let me know !

As you know, it would only be a short ride by train for me

I first visited the Remagen Bridge in April 1985. While there I met a Vet who said this was his first time back there since '45. To this day I kick myslef for not getting his name and his story. Anyhow, in the towers on the west side of the river is now a museum about the bridge. While there I bought a small souvenir. It is made of rock salvaged from the original piers in the middle of the river, which were removed as they were a boating hazard. It's a small bit of rock encased in plastic, with a small scroll of authenticity wound up and placed in the base. Here are a couple of pics of that little souvenir....

http://davidstravelpics.shutterfly.com/955

It's a link to the pix... I couldn't get the pix to show up in this post on their own....

I visited the area in September 2007. Was there for 2 days and it rained the whole time. Still, quite a pleasant place to visit. I would love to get back and visit this place in the Spring/Summer months. There is a great campground just outside of town. Here are a few pics of the bridge from that trip.











I'd love to return for this event in April but unless I hit the lottery it won't happen. The railroad tunnel was sealed off and closed while we were there. I'm wondering if it may be open during this event. We also cheated and drove to the top of the Erpel Ley. I'd like to climb it one day.

Robbie, great stuff.

I was there with my father in 1994, on both sides of the Rhine. The Remagen bridge towers were, at that point, minimally marked with historical remembrances. No museum then. We also drove from Bonn over to the east side and down to the Erpel Ley, which is an impressive height, as Robbie's photo demonstrates. The view down to the bridge site is dramatic.

Cindy and Steve: I probably won't be able to make it over there for this one event. I hope someday to see it again as part of a broader tour. Cindy, I hope to see you in Philly in April, and Steve, I hope you make it to Washington one day.

Robbie, thanks for documenting this history.

Robbie mate, seeing those pictures makes one wish to travel and see for themselves.

@ bierman

They still sell these kind of rocks today - I thought about buying one and send it to Doug, or even better, hand it to him personally when I finally manage to cross the ocean ... I just wasn´t sure about the packing



I surley don´t want to get Doug or me into trouble with the customs


@ EB

Going up to the Erpeler Ley by car ? Tsk tsk ... this year, we climbed that hill the old way - on foot

It wasn´t that bad as I thought it would be ... but the real bugger was that the restaurant on top was closed that day ... and we didn´t bring any water with us

I thought that, from reading all these military related books, I would have been so smart to always carry a bottle of water if you´re in the field ... well I learned it the hard way that day


@ Doug

Too bad - but maybe I can make the jump across the ocean next year

Steve, thanks very much for the thought. And that's really sufficient; let's not vex the security types by trying to get them to understand the meaning of such a souvenir. But I do really appreciate the impulse.

I very much hope I'll be able to welcome you to Washington next year.

I already thought about combining the visit in Washington with the WBG meeting in Philly

Steve, I very much hope that the WBG event happens. And it would be great to greet you here before that.

Doug I am sorry you wont make it for this event. How nice is it that they extend the invitation to the families . I hope you do make the trip someday. I wish I could walk on the same foreign soil as my Dad did.

As far as Philly goes I will be there. I couldnt be happier to see you again so its great to see you are planning on Philly too! Its been a very long time. I always want to look you up when I go to D.C but it seems like every time I am there for a day its a work day and I wouldnt want to presume that you can get away. So if we talk Gino into our reunion I will be seeing you. Its like Jonelle said about our little reunion this past weeked ..a couple years go by but as soon as you see each other it all falls back into place. I am so looking forward to seeing Bill and watching him hold court. Do you recall how it was the first year? I have never seen anything like it. Everyone hangs on to his every word. So hopefully I will see you soon.

They actually sell these stones from the bridge? I had no idea.

Robbie very nice! You had to one up my rock on the wall didnt you! Just joking its so you to share another of your trips & your photos. I know I have lived vicariously through them since you joined here. Thank goodness you travel and always have the camera at hand for those of us who dont get the chance

Have updated this link - http://davidstravelpics.shutterfly.com/955

with Remagen pics from '86, in addition to the souvenir rock pix...