Members of the Battle of the Bulge Association and the ambassadors of Belgium and Luxembourg came to Arlington National Cemetery on Jan. 23, 2026, to remember and reflect on those who gave their lives for Europe’s freedom during World War II. The group laid wreaths at the Battle of the Bulge Memorial in Section 21 and at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The annual remembrance honors the American service members who defeated Germany’s last major offensive of World War II, in the snow-covered villages and forests of Belgium and Luxembourg from Dec. 16, 1944, to Jan. 25, 1945. One of the war’s deadliest campaigns, the Battle of the Bulge received its name from the German army’s attack on the U.S. Army’s front lines (the position closest to the enemy, where soldiers, tanks and artillery were concentrated). The German army’s attack formed a large “bulge” in the lines.
At the Battle of the Bulge Memorial, both ambassadors spoke about American sacrifice and the historical bonds of friendship among the three countries. Belgian Ambassador Frédéric Bernard conveyed a simple yet powerful message: “Thank you.” He then explained that the Battle of the Bulge remains imprinted on Belgium’s landscape, from battlefields to memorials and American military cemeteries. He added that Belgian schoolchildren are taught about the 101st Airborne Division paratroopers, “who showed that a few brave souls can change the course of history.”
Luxembourg Ambassador Nicole Bintner-Bakshian described the annual ceremony as one of gratitude, mourning and celebration: gratitude that American service and sacrifice during World War II allowed Luxembourg and Belgium to become democratic and prosperous nations; mourning and remembering the fallen; and a celebration of how American service members inspired future generations.
101-year-old U.S. Army veteran Joseph Landry, from Shirley, Massachusetts, attended the ceremony as the lone representative of World War II veterans. His presence offered a poignant reminder of the soldiers who risked their lives in the snow and ice. During the Battle of the Bulge, he initially served with an anti-aircraft unit in Luxembourg City; next, he was recruited into trucking 82nd Airborne paratroopers 150 miles from Reims, France, to the front line in St. Vith, Belgium.
At the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Landry laid a wreath, followed by both ambassadors laying their own wreaths. The solemn remembrance reflected Ambassador Bernard’s words: “May the bonds of our nations remain as unbreakable as the line of humanity in the Ardennes.”
The ceremony reflected Belgium and Luxembourg’s enduring gratitude for their American allies during World War II and today. Although the Battle of the Bulge was fought 81 years ago, they still travel to Arlington National Cemetery to honor veterans, remember their sacrifices and say, “thank you.”
