“You cannot believe the emotions we felt when we saw those American soldiers march down the road and into our village,” the woman in the beauty shop said. “We had been under German occupation for four years and life had been very hard. The emotion in her voice from the memory was still very strong 65 years later. “We loved those boys.”

What had begun last spring as an inquiry for information on a soldier who was killed in the village of Cadier en Keer in The Netherlands in 1944, turned into a meaningful experience for this author that is not likely to be forgotten soon. The request came to the City of Mission last spring from the historical committee in Cadier en Keer, a small village near Maastricht, The Netherlands, telling them that Pvt. Albert Strahle Jr., a man from Mission, Texas had been the only soldier killed in the liberation of their village on Sept. 13, 1944. In order to help remind the youth of their village of the sacrifice he made for their freedom, the village would be erecting a monument in his memory on Sept. 11, 2009, 65 years after his death.

Cadier en Keer wanted information about Strahle. Were there any family members left in town? What was his family history? Through an article in the Progress Times, Joe Phillips, a second cousin of Strahle’s, and other family members were located.

In additional communications there was a request that officials from Mission come to The Netherlands for the ceremony. In the end, five people went. Deputy City Manager, Aida Lerma, and her husband, Jesse Lerma, went to represent the city. Joe Phillips went to represent the family. Taking a friend, Jane Garza, I went to represent the Progress Times and cover the event.

Knowing the seeming lack of appreciation for veterans found in this country, I privately wondered how many people in Cadier en Keer would turn out for this event. I doubted there would be many. I could not have been more wrong. Seeing the appreciation still felt in The Netherlands for the American soldiers who gave them their freedom 65 years ago was a heartwarming event.

The Dutch army had lasted only five days against the lightning war of Hitler’s army. In Cadier en Keer it was even worse. The men built a barrier on a road that would become a major supply line for Nazi troops. The road ran from Germany through Maastricht and Cadier en Keer west into Brussels and other parts of Europe. It took the Germans all of seven minutes to bring their heavy equipment to the front and knock the barrier down. The residents were then under the control of the Nazis.

The Germans took away their bicycles and horses, making it difficult to get their produce to market. Many were shot at while they worked in their fields. Food was easier to get in the farming regions but in northern areas things got so bad people ate tulip bulbs for food before the liberation. Life was very difficult and quite dangerous.

Anyone of Jewish heritage had to go into hiding or flee for his life. One family was hidden in Cadier en Keer for four years. It was such a secret that no one in the village knew about it until the liberation. Those who were found were taken to concentration camps. (On a side trip to Amsterdam, Jane and I visited the house of Anne Frank and learned that 75,000 Jews who lived in that area disappeared into concentration camps. That is a population larger than the city of Mission that was taken from Amsterdam alone.)

On Sept. 13, 1944 American soldiers from the 117th Regiment known as Old Hickory, arrived in Cadier en Keer to end the German rule. There was no major battle as the Germans were already retreating. Unfortunately, there was a hidden German sniper, who directed an artillery barrage into the troops as they were unloading supplies. Pvt. Albert Strahle Jr. was mortally wounded in the artillery barrage.

Smiling, the lady in the beauty shop continued her story, “I was nine years old but I had an American boyfriend. His name was Andy Clark and he would give me chocolate. It was so good. We had not had any chocolate for a long time. I still remember him fondly.”

The soldiers stayed in Cadier en Keer for a couple of months because it was winter. They were waiting for spring when they fought in the Battle of the Bulge that took place 60 miles to the east in Germany. Many of those young men lost their lives there. But for the time they were in Cadier en Keer, the villagers made them welcome. Some stayed in homes with families while others stayed in barns. It was too cold to camp outside. The villagers had a chance to get to know their American liberators, many of whom were still teenagers or in their early 20s.

Listening to the woman recount her memories of living in an occupied country gave us chills. She went on to tell us she had adopted a grave at the American Cemetery in Margraten Cemetery. The Americans had a policy that no soldier would be left in enemy territory. Because Germany was enemy territory, the bodies of the soldiers who died in the Battle of the Bulge were brought back to Margraten for burial. At one time over 20,000 soldiers were buried there. After the war, many were brought home but 8103 are still buried there.

On each Memorial Day and on their Liberation Day, residents take flags and flowers to the cemetery to place on their graves. Each of the graves has been adopted and many of the residents of Margraten have written to or met relatives of those whose graves they care for when they come from the United States to pay their respects.

Our first event was the world premiere of a historical documentary about the founding of the American Cemetery at Margraten. Over 500 local people turned out to view the documentary, which was presented in Dutch with English subtitles and English with Dutch subtitles, depending on who was speaking.

In the afternoon, we visited the cemetery and saw many graves with flowers placed on them by the families. A class of students was pointed out. We were told that children from 11 to 12 years old are taken to the cemetery to see the graves and the names of the missing on the wall. The children are told that each one of those soldiers died so they could be free. Had it not been for those Americans, their lives might be very different.

Over 2,000 people turned out for the dedication of the marker later that evening. During the ceremony, wreaths from the City of Cadier en Keer, the City of Mission, the family of Albert Strahle Jr., the schoolchildren of Margraten and members of Old Hickory were placed beside the memorial. Several speakers spoke with the general theme, “Freedom is not free.” After the ceremony, many individuals took small bouquets and placed them at the foot on the monument bearing Strahle’s name.

Afterwards in a reception, a monument designer told us similar monuments were being dedicated all over The Netherlands, in rural France and Belgium as well, to honor the American soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice so they could be free.

The event had to be experienced first hand to understand the true depth of appreciation these people have for the American soldiers that freed their homeland. It was an event this author will not soon forget. In a time when Americans are told they are arrogant and hated around the world, it was an assurance that the wars Americans have fought to free people have not been in vain.

The La Joya Independent School District will present their fall Mariachi & Folklorico Concert featuring the combined talents of the district’s three high schools Nov. 7 and 8.

LJISD pioneered the mariachi and folklorico dance program in public schools. The program was created as a way to keep students who came from Hispanic cultures interested in staying in school. It was wildly successful and soon the LJISD folklorico dancers and mariachi from La Joya High School, (which was the only high school in the district at that time), were being invited to dance competitions all over the United States and some international events. Since that time, folklorico and mariachi programs have been springing up in schools all over Texas and in other parts of the country.

The La Joya program is still at the forefront, winning many competitions and putting on a show that looks like a professional production.

The fall concert will be held at the La Joya ISD Performing Arts Center, 604 Coyote, in La Joya. There will be two performances on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and a Sunday, Nov. 8, matinee at 2 p.m.

According to John Garza, LJISD Performing Arts Center activities coordinator, the cast of the fall folklorico and mariachi production will include over 200 students from Grupo Folklorico “Tabasco” and Mariachi “Los Coyotes” from La Joya High School; Grupo Folklorico “Ozomatli” and Mariachi “Los Lobos” from Palmview High School; and Grupo Folklorico “Sol Azteca” and Mariachi “Sol De La Joya” from Juarez-Lincoln High School.

Tickets for this fall extravaganza will be $6 and may be purchased at the LJISD ticket box office in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For information call (956) 323-2881.

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Winter Texans Enjoy Shrimp Cook-off

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Chair volleyball teams developed for mobility impaired

Chair volleyball as a sport is new to the Winter Texan community. Mary Beckwith, who is organizing the sport, said chair volleyball is for all activity levels, from those who are regularly active to those who are wheelchair bound. The sport can be played indoors or outdoors.

The standard sport involves six players on a court. The team scores only when serving, and it takes 15 points to win a game. The team needs to win two-thirds to win the match.

Chair volleyball differs from regular volleyball in that there is a smaller court, a lower net, and players sit to play. It also allows unlimited hits to return the ball. The serve rotates but the players don’t move. Players use a 20-inch beach ball or another lightweight ball. A total of 12 folding chairs are needed on the court unless one of the players sits in a wheelchair. He or she can use his or her chair instead of sitting in a folding chair. The winning team must win two-thirds of the games to win the match.

The sport promotes competitive comradery as the teams practice and play games. At the same time, it reduces stress and boosts confidence and self-esteem.

Physical benefits include improving cardiovascular fitness, increasing joint and overall flexibility and enhancing muscle tone and endurance.

Persons or parks interested in starting chair volleyball teams should contact Mary Beckwith at (956) 342-3197 or e-mail her at mbeckwith275@hotmail.com.

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