"Part one of family trip" Bastogne and surrounding area

We went and saw some WWII places and it was humbling how many lives were lost during the battles that raged along the German front during the 'battle of the Bulge', Bastogne, St Vith, and many more.  As we drove just within an hour from where we live we started noticing towns with the names of battles that are now past.....  It is so close to here and that was an eye opener.  Bitburg was almost completely destroyed (where we go to church and shop) from air raids and one of Hitler's headquarters is on the base in Bitburg.  It is crazy to be here and start to understand the vastness of the history that surrounds us. 

This is in Bastogne....Beautiful with fall leaves and fog rolling through.....it is hard to believe it was once surrounded by thousands of German Troops and tanks

Bastogne's memorial

this memorial is in an American star shape with all 50 states names on it

These were steps down into a crypt...

In architecture, a crypt (from the Latin crypta and the Greek κρύπτη, kryptē; meaning concealed, private) is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics.

The crypt

we were looking through a gate because we went when it was'nt open

The country side with your 'Belgian Blue' cows

Yes we do love each other ;)

and yes we love to Kiss

not wanting to go down the very LONG spiral stairs 

Idaho

the center from above

Tennessee looked beautiful......Doesn't it always in pictures :)

The star that was on every pillar

The story of the battle was on the pillars inside in the center and those involved on the US and Belgian sides were listed on the outside

The monument itself

A tank the boys weren't too sure of

A fallen soldiers monument near Foy where there were fox holes in the forest which we couldn't find because we were unsure where exactly to look

More beautiful country side

We visited the 'peace woods' which is a monument in the shape of a mother and her child and every person has a tree for them

The veterans names

Le boise... 'The woods'

Bridger demanded to take his backpack 'hiking' in the woods

A cool looking mushroom in the woods