Il Silenzio

[danoh]

I was at a small gathering today celebrating the 4th, and what it meant. The following was presented for everyone's consideration. I have googled this every which way, and it seems to be mostly true..... except the origin of the song. None the less, its still a good story.

First the youtube link for the music.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsWDgL6hx4E

Here is the story as written: (Its also the same wording in Wikipedia, I didn't know that at the time I read it)

"Il Silenzio" is a memorial piece commissioned by the Dutch and first played in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands.

In a cemetery about six miles from the Dutch city of Maastricht lie buried 8,301 American soldiers who died in "Operation Market Garden" in the battles to liberate the Netherlands in the fall and winter of 1944–5. Everyone of the men buried in the cemetery, as well as those in the Canadian and British military cemeteries has been adopted by a Dutch family who tend the grave and keep alive the memory of the soldier they have adopted. It is the custom to keep a portrait of "their" foreign soldier in a place of honour in their home. Annually on "Liberation Day", Memorial Services are held for the men who died to liberate the Netherlands. The day concludes with a concert, at which "Il Silenzio" has always been the concluding piece.





I guess not everyone hates the United States.

[mcyclonegt]

I spent six months living with 300 Dutch men and women in Afghanistan, and I can tell you, they are standup folks. They are full of morals and values like some people would not believe. I still talk to my friend Nico a few times a year and one day hope to visit the Netherlands and his family. What a great story, thank you for sharing.

[golddigger14s]

[Sissyboy]

The Dutch are top notch!

[MadPick]

Good story, Dan. Thanks for posting.

The Dutch are top notch!

I . . . one day hope to visit the Netherlands and his family.

DO IT!!

I've been to Amsterdam a number of times, and it is hands-down one of my favorite places to visit. I've never seen the rest of the country, but I would LOVE to.

[glockgirl]

Amsterdam and the countryside are both places you should experience...the Dutch, much like the Belgians, are very aware of the sacrifices made on their behalf in the War by the U.S., the UK and Canada. When I was in Amsterdam last (roughly ten years ago), I was having coffee when an elderly couple stopped and talked with me for a bit (my broken Dutch, their much better English) and asked if I was, indeed, Canadian (I was carrying a book bag with a Canadian flag sewn on the side). When I answered in the affirmative, the elderly man literally hugged me, insisted on paying for my coffee, and then invited me to their home for dinner.

Apparently, he was a young child during the War, and his town was liberated by a Canadian regiment.

[Talons]

The old country is a beautiful place with great people. Thank you for sharing this, dan. As we dutch say...

"Gezellig"