Teledyne FLIR Defense Sponsors Battle of the Bulge Commemoration Ceremony in Bastogne with the American Battle Monuments Foundation

On December 16th, 1944, the German army surprised the Allied troops holding Belgium and Luxembourg. Under the snowy and glacially cold cover of the Ardennes Forest, 40 German divisions made their last significant stand of World War II by attempting to split British and American forces and claim the port city of Antwerp. The Germans knew that this was likely their last chance to turn the tide after D-Day, and the small Belgian town of Bastogne was the epicenter of what became known to history as the Battle of the Bulge. In freezing foxholes surrounding the town, the United States 101st Airborne Division refused ceding to the advancing German troops, famously responding to the Nazi Commander’s request for surrender with one word: “Nuts!”

Over 700,000 Allied troops, including about 500,000 Americans, fought in the brutal 6-week offensive, which Winston Churchill proclaimed as “the greatest American battle of the war.” The U.S. Army sustained 75,000 total casualties, making it the United States’ deadliest single battle in the war. 

Thanks to the resilience of the Allies, Bastogne still stands. The memory of that Christmas season in 1944 is still vivid in the region’s memory, where every year they still gather to honor the Allied forces that repelled advancing German troops from their homes and families. This December is the 80th anniversary of this turning point that paved the end of World War II, an occasion marked with a commemoration ceremony at the Mardasson Memorial just outside of Bastogne. Teledyne FLIR Defense, in partnership with the American Battle Monuments Foundation, sponsored this historic event which gathered a delegation of U.S. and Allied dignitaries, current soldiers, and eight surviving World War II U.S. Army veterans.

As part of the sponsorship, several Teledyne FLIR Defense representatives were in attendance to show support, and had the honor of a lifetime standing behind these returning heroes as the story and significance of this day was recounted by speakers including the Belgian Foreign Minister Bernard Quintin and NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. The ceremonial wreath-laying, volleys, playing of taps, and moment of silence at the base of the star-shaped U.S. memorial made for an unforgettably powerful moment. As the guests departed, Defense employees were able to shake hands with those veterans who may likely be visiting their battlefield for the last time. 

“Teledyne FLIR Defense is honored to support the American Battle Monuments Foundation’s mission to honor our fallen warfighters,” said Dr. JihFen Lei, President, Teledyne FLIR Defense. “The Battle of the Bulge 80th anniversary commemoration is an important reminder not only of the ultimate costs paid by the allied heroes of the past, but also the current and continual sacrifice required to uphold the freedom they secured. We appreciate the efforts of ABMF to keep this history alive and accessible for generations to come.”

Amidst the pomp and circumstance of the official ABMF event, it was the small moments of enduring human spirit that resonated with particular strength. Hearing the stories of these veterans in their own words through letters expressing their hopes amidst the chaos, including one soldiers’ excitement for the upcoming 1944 Army vs. Navy football game (fortunately for him, the Army won 23 to 7 that year). Standing at night after the ceremony between the same trees shadowing those soldiers as an unseasonable cold swept in, lending a fractional, yet visceral, hint of how cold that Belgian forest became for the Airborne. Seeing the painted windows and holiday lights glowing down Bastogne’s vibrant main street, testaments to the joy of freedom and liberty that was so worth fighting for.

We here at Defense are proud to partner with the ABMF and help keep these memories alive. It is an important reminder to us all that the battles our customers face are consequential in ways that will resonate for years beyond our own. A special thank you to everyone within our organization innovating and creating the technology and solutions enabling life-saving success for our 21st-century warfighters.

Click here to view the ABMF’s official event video.