WWII veterans honored at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery

World War II, Battle of the Bulge veterans Frank Stellar, 102, Truman Christian, 101, and Russell Sattazahn, 100, were honored Oct. 2 by Belgium's King Philippe, U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White, dignitaries, and guests at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.

"On behalf of the American Battle Monuments Commission, I extend our sincere thanks to everyone gathered, and especially to those whose presence gives this moment its deepest meaning: the World War II veterans with us today," said ABMC Commissioner Brooks D. Tucker during his welcome remarks. "Gentlemen, we are profoundly grateful for your service. We are grateful for what you did in uniform, for what you carried home, and for the living witness you continue to offer to generations who inherit the freedoms you helped defend."

ABMC Commissioner Brooks Tucker provides opening remarks Oct. 2 at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. (U.S. Embassy Brussels photo)

The event included a U.S. military formation, color guard, firing detail, a flyover by two U.S. C-130s accompanied by two Belgian F-16s, and a Belgian Air Force Band. Wreaths were placed during the ceremony in honor of the almost 8,500 WWII service members buried and memorialized at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.

"Today, may we honor the fallen, give thanks for those who returned, and recommit ourselves to the ideals for which they served. May this place continue to speak clearly across time: of sacrifice, of alliance, of gratitude, and of freedom," Tucker said.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Majesty accompanied the veterans to the grave of Stellar's brother-in-law Pfc. Edwin Earl Stewart who was killed during a forward medical mission connected in the Eilendorf-Verlautenheide area. The group also paid their respects at the graves of the Tester brothers, Robert, Glenn, and James, where ABMC interpretive guide, Emira Mazlout, told the story of the brothers' service and their mother's decision to have them buried side-by-side at the cemetery.

Watch the video of the ceremony at https://www.youtube.com/live/73xRBRmfD-Y?is=gGTQym3t-OdXCsMg.

ABMC interpretive guide Emira Mazlout share the story of the Tester brothers who are buried side-by-side at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. Left to right: U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, WWII veteran Truman Christian, His Majesty King Philippe, World War II veterans Russel Sattazahn and Frank Stellar, and Belgian Minister of Defense Theo Francken. (U.S. Embassy Brussels photo)

Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery contains the remains of almost 8,000 U.S. service members, most of whom lost their lives during the advance of the U.S. armed forces into Germany. Their headstones are arranged in gentle arcs sweeping across a broad green lawn that slopes gently downhill. On the rectangular piers of the colonnade are inscribed the names of 450 missing. Bronze rosettes mark the names of those since recovered and identified.

The cemetery possesses great military historic significance as it holds fallen Americans of two major efforts, one covering the U.S. First Army's drive in September 1944 through northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg into Germany, and the second covering the Battle of the Bulge.