U.S. VETERANS FRIENDS, LUXEMBOURG A.S.B.L.
Siege social: CONTERN
48, rue de Moutfort
L-5310 CONTERN

Dear American Veterans and Friends.

Christmas 2005! What a wonderful time to remember, what a wonderful time to be grateful and to honour all those women and men in American uniforms who, some 61 years ago, came to our country to liberate Luxembourg from a four and a half years cruel Nazi tyranny. We shall always remember American Veterans. You are the living legacy of a painful past and now you are our true ambassadors of peace and freedom.

Today, more than 60 years ago, are we still realizing what drama shook our countries and our families at that time? Even now, are we able to measure the sacrifices made by our liberators? Even now, are we ready to give a daily thank you to those who sacrificed their youth and their dreams for our freedom? These are just some of the important questions we should be asking ourselves at a time when any happiness is fleeting and perishable, at a time when men loses sight of true humanism and sacrifices the most important human values on the altars of the gods of greed and degradation.

In the American Military cemetery at Hamm, Luxembourg, five thousand seventy six crosses and David stars remind us that these young Americans sacrificed their lives for our survival and our well being. The message these soldiers who fell on the front lines of the Ardennes battlefield beg us to cherish life, our families and our neighbours. They implore us not to refuse anybody the right to their life and their human dignity, nor to impose any dangerous political, economic or social system on anyone else. This message of peace, freedom, independence and realisation of human values is joined by the same message from the thousands of German soldiers buried in the German cemetery close by. Fate made them enemies in their worldly lives, but now they implore us from eternity where they are reunited and united, to live a brotherly life where selfishness and strive for power have no place.

May all they who thrive on power and domination meditate over the tombs in all the military cemeteries strewn over the countries. May they reflect on the messages of the millions of lives lost on the battlefields from antiquity to today. May they learn the lesson of history.

Dear Veterans, Luxembourg has not forgotten. From the depths of our hearts we all thank you. We wear in our hearts the noble words spoken by President Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg: ?We highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, it is for us the living, to be dedicated to the unfinished work which they, who fought here, have thus far so nobly advanced.

Our gratitude to our dear Veterans and heroes is boundless. We salute and adore you and invite you to visit us whenever the mood strikes you. You have a permanent invitation and you are always welcome.

Our American-Luxembourg's friendship week will be held next year from June 21st to June 26th. You know you are always welcome to join us.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New Year.


Constant Goergen
President