Battle of the Bulge barracks facing closure
A fight is on to save the historic Bastogne military barracks in the Belgian Ardennes from closure.
The campaign follows the Belgian government's decision to close 23 barracks across the country by 2011, including the so-called 'Heinz' barracks at Bastogne where US General Anthony McAuliffe had his headquarters during famous Battle of the Bulge in 1944.
The announcement by defence minister Pieter de Crem has caused a storm of protest among US and British war veterans as well as many other people living in Belgium.
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)
The campaign follows the Belgian government's decision to close 23 barracks across the country by 2011, including the so-called 'Heinz' barracks at Bastogne where US General Anthony McAuliffe had his headquarters during famous Battle of the Bulge in 1944.
The announcement by defence minister Pieter de Crem has caused a storm of protest among US and British war veterans as well as many other people living in Belgium.
A war veteran's group has written to Howard Gutman, new-appointed American ambassador to Belgium, appealing to him to intervene and help halt the closure.
The barracks is the home of the Belgian 1st Field Artillery Regiment, currently deployed in Afghanistan, and also houses a small museum dedicated to the sacrifice made by US and British troops.
The Battle of the Bulge has special significance for allied war veterans as it is seen as key turning point in WW2.