Courtesy of Zeeland (Netherlands) Television, follow the link to YouTube for a great opportunity to experience part of the joint concert in Middelburg, The Netherlands.  I know, the post has been on YouTube for over 10 days, but its taken me that long to recover from the trip induced sleep deprivation and jet lag.

Keep watching the blog as video clips from our trip are on the brink of appearing on YouTube with links from this blog!

Click here to view YouTube video of Middelburgs Muziek Korps and Holland American Legion Band.

Ordinarily June 14 would pass me by with little consideration.  But not this year. How many of us even realize Flag Day is celebrated on June 14 each year to commemorate the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United Stated of America in 1777 by the Second Contenental Congress?

Click here to read more about the United States Flag Day on Wikipedia.org

The Stars and Stripes may have become a symbol of holidays and sporting events for many of us in the United States, but seeing it waving with respect throughout Normandy, France sends a strong message that Old Glory is still a tangible symbol of freedom and liberation.  I saw more flags flying in Normandy, France than I have ever seen at any celebration in the US.

Memorial ceremony at Saint Martin de Varreville for the soldiers lost at sea on June 6, 1944. (pic 06Jun09)

13Jun09 7:00pm Saturday Michigan Time

16 hours ago we climbed on the double decker bus one last time for the ride to the Amsterdam Airport.  Now (7:00pm Michigan Time) both groups (two seperate flights) have safely landed in Detroit and two buses are bouncing down westbound I-96 (the highways in Europe were WAY smoother!) for City on a Hill in Zeeland, Michigan.  The second bus should be rolling into Zeeland around 10pm.  I believe the first bus is two hours ahead of us based on the flight times out of Amsterdam.

Thanks for all your support and the band looks forward to seeing ALL of you at our Welcome Home Concert 7:30pm next Tuesday, 16 June 09, at Kollen Park in Holland, Michigan!!!

We’ve packed our bags and are about to climb on the bus headed for Amsterdam airport.  What a WONDERFUL trip.  Keep watching the blog for additional photos and videos.

Please join us for our Welcome Home Concert Tuesday night, June 16, at Kollen Park in Holland, Michigan!

Watch for this thank-you in an up coming issue of the Holland Sentinel.  www.hollandsentinel.com

Following is a message from our internationally reknown director, Thom Working:

“Tonight was our final performance and another amazing experience!  The band has played so well -  but we’ve also had very meaningful and emotional experiences at the gravesites - like the one today at Wassenaar where many Dutch Resistance fighters were executed.

We’ve had a great time traveling but we’ve also grown so much emotionally and have such a greater appreciation for the sacrifices in WWII.  It’s difficult to explain to the people at home how appreciative the people here still are 65 years later.

We’re so proud to represent our country in honoring the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much for us all so many years ago.”

-Thom

With the performances behind us, all that’s left is to tour Amsterdam and travel home.  Hopefully I’ll be able to upload some additional photos while traveling…

All travelers are well and I believe everyone had black socks on at the concert tonight.  (Right, Jack?)

Clear your calendar and plan to attend our first summer concert in Holland, Michigan this coming Tuesday, June 16 at 7:30pm at the Henry P Vander Linde Bandshell in Kollen Park!  We’ll be playing many of the songs from our Tour of Europe.

While standing in France at the grave of WW1 soldier Gilbert Karsten, 90 year old veteran Ray Lokers from Hamilton, Michigan reflects on his service in World War II. Two days earlier, at the American Cemetery in Normandy, France overlooking Omaha Beach, 16 year old Alyssa Katerberg shares how visiting the final resting place of over 10,000 WWII veterens has impacted her.

Ray and Alyssa are the oldest and youngest travelers with the Holland American Legion Band traveling throughout Normandy, France to perform in the 65th Anniversary of the D-Day Invasion ceremonies.

Click here to listen to Ray and Alyssa.

On Tuesday, 09Jun09 the Holland American Legion Band participated in a graveside service for the Willard G Leenhouts.  The first Holland casualty in World War I and the name sake of the Holland Legion Post.

Zeeland, Michigan Mayor and veteran Les Hoogland reflects on the life and death of Gilbert Karsten.  Karsten was the first Zeeland casualty of World War I and Zeeland’s American Legion Post bears his name.  The Holland American Legion Band participated in a graveside service in France on 09Jun09.

The view from the saxophone section in the Middleburg Concert Hall in the Province of Zeeland immediately before the combined concert on 10Jun09.

After a marvelous concert in Middleburg with the Middleburg Muzik Korps, we survived the two hour bus trip to our hotel in Rotterdam.  Sorry for the blogging absence the last couple days.  I had internet issues at our last hotel but its much better here so hopefully I can catch a few things up in the morning.  If nothing else, I’ll continue to add photos, video, and audio to the blog after returning to the States.

It’s 2am here and we’ve been in the hotel for just under an hour now.  Time to think about sleep.  In case you are wondering, everyone appears to be doing fine.  No casualties and no major oversights involving music, instruments, or uniforms.  However, one band member continues to await the arrival of her luggage.  (Hopefully it was waiting here for her!)

General Dwight D Eisenhower spoke to his troops on June 5, 1944 in anticipation of the largest military mobilization in the history of the world.   He spoke of the skill of his troops, the nobility of their mission, and their commitment to persevere.

The following morning, after the invasion was well underway, President Roosevelt paused to offer a prayer for the Allied Forces.

Forty Years after the D-Day Invasion, President Ronald Reagan visited Point du Hoc and spoke about the determination and sacrifice made by the soldiers who were committed to freedom.

On June 6, 2009 President Obama spoke on the steps of the memorial at the American Cemetery in Normandy, France in commemoration of the 65th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

On June 7 and 8, 2009 the Holland American Legion Band performed a concert and participated in a wreath laying and flag waving ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery and toured the grounds at Point du Hoc.

Click here to listen to excerpts from the presidents’ speeches.

8Jun09 2:25pm Normandy Time

Note from our director Thom Working:

This has been such an amazing experience. The reception of the French in Normandy has been really exhilarating. Standing ovations and many encore numbers.

It’s hard to describe how warm and open – and thankful even after 65 years – the people of Normandy are towards Americans.

The band has really outdone themselves, playing at a professional level!!! The Legion Color Guard adds a dimension which is so appreciated by both us and the audiences.

We also had the great honor to be a part of raising the flags and laying the wreath at the Normandy American Cemetery yesterday (Sunday) before our concert. The band members also split up into small groups to lay a rose at the base of the cross on each of the Ottawa-Kent county soldiers buried there. A very moving day!

The group has been working very hard with several performances a day for the last two days. Now onto Paris for a of R & R.

-Thom

Holland Legion Band at Normandy American Cemetery where President Obama spoke the day before.