Three American World War II veterans, all at least 100 years old, were honored by Belgium’s King Philippe during an Oct. 2 remembrance ceremony at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery.
Featured image: U.S. Air Force video frame by Staff Sgt. Aaron Edwards via DVIDS (public domain). The appearance of U.S. Department of War visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.
Frank Stellar, 102; Truman Christian, 101; and Russell Sattazahn, 100, returned to Belgium for the ceremony, according to the American Battle Monuments Commission. All three served in World War II and are veterans of the Battle of the Bulge.
King Philippe joined the veterans alongside U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken, ABMC representatives and other guests. The commemoration included a U.S. military formation, color guard, firing detail and wreath-laying ceremony, as well as a flyover by two U.S. C-130 aircraft and two Belgian F-16s, ABMC said.
A return to the graves
After the formal ceremony, King Philippe accompanied the veterans to the grave of Stellar’s brother-in-law, Pfc. Edwin Earl Stewart, who was killed during a forward medical mission in the Eilendorf-Verlautenheide area. The group also visited the graves of brothers Robert, Glenn and James Tester, who are buried side by side.
“Gentlemen, we are profoundly grateful for your service,” ABMC Commissioner Brooks D. Tucker said in remarks quoted by the commission. “We are grateful for what you did in uniform, for what you carried home, and for the living witness you continue to offer to generations who inherit the freedoms you helped defend.”
Henri-Chapelle’s place in World War II history
The cemetery in eastern Belgium contains the remains of nearly 8,000 U.S. service members, most of whom died during the U.S. advance into Germany. The names of 450 missing service members are inscribed on the memorial’s colonnade, bringing the number buried or memorialized there to nearly 8,500, according to ABMC.
The site commemorates two major campaigns: the U.S. First Army’s drive through northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg into Germany, and the Battle of the Bulge.
Watch the ceremony footage
Video: U.S. Air Force / Staff Sgt. Aaron Edwards via DVIDS. Video ID 1025401; VIRIN 261002-F-IC495-6278. The exact asset is marked public domain by DVIDS. The appearance of U.S. Department of War visual information does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.
The 3-minute, 31-second AFN Benelux B-roll package was recorded by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Aaron Edwards and posted by DVIDS on Oct. 5. DVIDS identifies the work as public domain. Zark News reviewed the footage and found no added commercial music or third-party broadcast graphics; the original source credit and non-endorsement notice are preserved here.
