Embassy Programs & Events
Nivelles Salutes its Liberators - 5 September 2008
64 years after its liberation, Nivelles paid tribute to its liberators, in the presence of George Patton and of U.S. Ambassador Sam Fox.
Nivelles mayor Pierre Huart introduced the ceremony of the 64th anniversary of the liberation of Nivelles. That city had been willing to pay tribute to its liberators of September 5, 1944, i.e. the 2nd U.S. Armored Division, for a long time. ‘We want this ceremony to be glamorous so that future generations will remember the sacrifice of these soldiers and also of people of Nivelles who were killed in combats for our freedom,’ mayor Huart said.
'I am very moved today. It is a day with a lot of emotions. I am deeply moved to see Belgians remember what Americans did for them. I was five when Nivelles was liberated. My grandfather was therefore not able to tell me a lot about it. But today, I am very proud of what he did when I see all the people gathered here,’ said George Patton, grandson of General Patton, one of those U.S. troops who enabled Nivelles to become free again in September 1944.
Ambassador Sam Fox: ‘The liberation of Nivelles and the ones that took place in other Belgian cities are just another fine example of the long and lasting friendship that binds together Belgium and the United States,’ U.S. Ambassador Sam Fox said. ‘After all, we were not exactly thrown together by geography. We do not share a border, or a language, or an identical tradition. No, what unites us is stronger than that, it is that we have a common past.’