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Lt Col Haven, USAF, Retired, organized a study trip for forty-one Ramstein High School AFROTC cadets to the wreath laying ceremony at the Luxembourg American Cemetery on Veterans Day. He commented that the ceremony served as a great tribute to the sacrifice of American military personnel who have, and will continue to serve, across the globe. Several of the cadets wrote the following summary of the trip. |
DAY OF REFLECTION
by AFROTC Cadets, Ramstein High School
On Veterans Day the AFJROTC went to the Luxembourg American Cemetery, where 5,074 fallen soldiers of World War II are buried. Forty-one cadets and five adults representing Ramstein High School’s AFJROTC attended the ceremony to honor their sacrifice as well as those who’ve served throughout history. On November 11, everyone met at the front of the school at 8:25 am. Following the 2 hour bus ride, everyone was allowed to look around and see what caught their eye. The Senior Aerospace Science Instructor, Lt Col Haven, USAF, Retired, also tasked each cadet to find someone who passed that was from the state you most identify with and research them. Then we had to see what the difference was in tombstones for people of different religions. We recognized that the Christian soldiers had a tombstone with a cross and the Jewish soldiers had the Star of David on the top of their tombstone. We also had to find a Medal of Honor recipient and do research on who that was as well, two of which are buried there - Private William D. McGee and Sergeant Day G. Turner. At 11:11, the ceremony began, and several people went up to give a speech about what this day meant to them and how we were gathered there to honor the fallen soldiers. Following the ceremony, all of the cadets walked around the cemetery, quietly and respectfully, while completing the rest of their assignment and taking it in. Once it was about time to leave, everyone lined up and took a few pictures, then got back on the bus to go to the next cemetery. This next cemetery was for the German soldiers who passed away from the war as well. We noticed that the majority of the men who died were in their 20’s and that our cemeteries were very different. The German cemetery had 4 people to a tombstone and if the men were unknown, they would just put “German soldier.” The cemetery in Luxembourg had spaced out tombstones with names, dates of their death, where they were from, and what religion they were. Overall, it was a great trip with a lot of reflection, appreciation, and respect. All of the cadets had fun being together, but at the same time learned a lot and enjoyed the experience.
