Battle of the Bulge commemorated 80 years on

The 80th anniversary of the beginning of World War II’s Battle of the Bulge was commemorated at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. on Monday, Dec. 16, 2024.

A ceremony and wreath-laying hosted by the Friends of the National World War II Memorial was attended by two World War II Veterans, dignitaries from Belgium, Canada, France, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom, and Friends of Memorial officials. The Armed Forces Color Guard presented the Colors and the U.S. Army Band, Brass Quintet, provided musical accompaniment. Staff Sergeant Brian Brewer, who has served with “Pershing’s Own” for the past four years, performed Taps.

Kevin Greiss, Superintendent, National Mall and Parks; Jane Droppa, Chair, Friends of the National World War II Memorial; and Alex Kershaw, resident historian at the memorial, spoke of the pivotal battle which cost more than 22,000 allied military and civilian lives.

National Park Service Volunteer and Army Veteran Joe Gaziano served as Master of Ceremonies and introduced two Battle of the Bulge Veterans.

“Colonel Frank Cohn was born in Breslau, Germany, in 1925,” Gaziano said. “Cohn escaped with his parents to the United States at the age of 13. Drafted into the United States Army, he bravely served in the Battle of the Bulge, the Rhineland and Central Europe Campaigns, ultimately meeting Russians at the Elbe River. Following these historic contributions, he became Sergeant of the Guard for the Nazi prisoners later tried in the second Nuremberg Trial. Col. Cohn’s distinguished military career spanned 35 years, including tours in Korea and Vietnam, culminating in his role as Chief of Staff for the Military District of Washington.”

Gaziano then introduced Harry Miller who, “At just 16 years-old, fought in the Battle of the Bulge as a member of United States Army’s 740th Tank Battalion, attached to the 82nd Airborne Division. His distinguished military career continued with service in Korea at General Douglas MacArthur’s headquarters and in Vietnam with the United States Air Force, retiring in 1966 as a Senior Master Sergeant in the Air Force. Today, Harry remains dedicated to honoring the legacy of his fellow Veterans, volunteering here at the memorial to share inspiring stories of courage and service with visitors of all ages.”

Bookending the ceremony, a “Reading of the Names” at the memorial’s Circle of Remembrance and D-Day Prayer Plaque was held to honor the Americans killed during the battle. The ceremony concluded with a wreath-laying at the WWII Memorial’s Freedom Wall, after which Cohn and Miller spent time meeting well-wishers and tourists in the chilly, humid air.

Chris Reed-Harper travelled from suburban Maryland to remember this day. Her father served with the 106th Infantry Battalion, arriving in Europe in September; he was captured, “80 years-ago, today,” she said, along with a Jewish comrade whose identity they successfully hid from their captors at great risk. Raymond James Reed, from Jersey City, NJ, was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained during the war.

Reed-Harper spoke of her father’s tales of survival, having pieces of bread or potato thrown at POW’s by the guards, trading cigarettes for food, enduring captivity in two prison camps from then until the end of the war. Reed became life-long friends with his Jewish compatriot.

Ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the battle were marked around the country and at sites in Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands.

See photos from the 2024 December 7 Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and December 16 Battle of the Bulge Commemorations at the World War II Memorial at VA’s online Flickr gallery.