26-08-2024 Alan Driver
I definitely had some issues with the language barrier, but it was great to have a chance to do the walk. Please pass along my thanks to your entire group. My father was aware of the support from the people of The Netherlands and he was very appreciative of it. He always wanted to return here someday, but he never got the chance. It meant a lot to me to be able to come in his place.
01-06-2024 – Craig Caldwell
North Shore Legacy Tour: 80th Anniversary of D-Day
On June first 2024 our 273 canadian students, teachers and local tour guides participated in the daily Sunset March held in Nijmegen at the place the Waalcrossing took place on September 20th 1944. Each evening a veteran walks the same route using the newly build bridge call The Crossing.
48 lamppost join the veteran and all the participants from south to north on its way to the famour town of Arnhem. Both the crossing and the battles in Arnhem are captured in the movie a Bridge to far.
And as part of our tour for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, we joined a group of about 15 Norwegian Veterans doing the Sunset March. They were also heading for Normamdy, but on their motorcycles.
Our full journey can be seen here. https://www.eftours.ca/educational-tour/DDEC?utm_source=brochure&utm_medium=offline&utm_campaign=tourcode
Craig Caldwell
Director of Schools
Anglophone North School District, NB
Canada
13-05-2024 Thank You!
It was an honour to serve as the Veteran of the Day for the Sunset March. As a former member of the 8th Canadian Hussars with a number of WW2 8th Hussars buried in Groesbeek and the grandson of a soldier who served with the Canadian Scottish Regiment buried in Groesbeek, taking part was incredibly meaningful for me and my family. Thank you Team Sunset March and Team31.
Sean Wallace
Saturday, I lead the Sunset March as veteran of the day. A very Emotional experience. Shared, with my Wife & Daughter from UK, and all my Dutch Friends. It will be a beautiful memory for years to come.
Beste Sunsetmarcher,
Bedankt voor het mogen bijwonen van de sunset march op zaterdag 26-8-2023.
Tevens was ook de herdenking voor de 25 gevallenen van de ISAF.
Dit was indrukwekkend, eervol en ook goed georganiseerd.
Bedankt!
My husband and I were able to visit Nijmegen several years ago.
We saw the Oversteek Bridge and learned of the history.
Unfortunely, we were not able to witness the daily Sunset March.
We wish to thank all the participant’s that have honored and paid their respect to the Allied soldiers by participating in the daily march and to the people of The Netherlands for honoring the Allied soldiers and never forgetting them.
Thank you so much.
On Saturday, May 5th, 2018, I was honored to be recognized as the Veteran of the Day and to forever become a part of the Sunset March.
As a Veteran of the United Stated military, it was humbling to see the dedication made each and every day to recognize the sacrifice made by those 48 US paratroopers on 20 September 1944.
I can not put to words the feeling I had while walking the bridge. A mix of sadness for their ultimate sacrifice but a feeling of pride. I am proud to be an American Veteran but I am also so proud of the people of Nijmegen for the creation of this amazing bridge and so proud of the Dutch Veterans who have taken on the task of forever remembering the sacrifices of so many during a time that seems so long ago.
May we never forget those sacrifices that allow us all to live as free people today.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the Sunset March. I will forever remember that evening and forever be proud to call myself a Sunset Marcher!
Sunset March Veterans, especially Kees Bleijerveld, Partners, and citizens of Nijmegen,
Sergeant William (Bill) Emil Kero, 82nd Airborne Division 307 Engineer Battalion Co C, was killed in action on September 20th, 1944, during the liberation of Nijmegen, fighting for the freedom of future generations. The oldest of seven children, from an American (Saxon, Wisconsin) farming family of Finnish descent, who previously lost his mother when he was 14 years old, courageously fought alongside his fellow brothers in arms in the largest airborne operation up until that point in WWII. For his extraordinary heroism, he was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Service Cross and Ridder vierde klasse der Militaire Willems Orde.
On his 97th birthday, representing the Kero family, I paid sincerest respects, to an uncle I had never met, by symbolically crossing the Waal river, during a Sunset March, bearing witness to his heroic “Sisu”, and then offering prayers for the 49 venerated soldiers voor hun Moed – Beleid – Trouw (for their Bravery – Leadership – Loyalty).
Please know that the Kero family is extremely honored, and deeply moved, by the touching memorial established by the citizens of Nijmegen. We are also truly humbled by the continued dedication to both remember and honor the fallen through the Sunset March. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to ensure that this significant piece of history is never forgotten.
Robert Emil Kero (son of Robert Herman Kero, USN WWII)
At the conclusion of the Sunset March September 16, 2017 the “veteran of the day” Colonel Jon P. Beale meets Steve Morgan who is a veteran of the fighting at Arnhem Bridge. Together they joined in the short but impressive ceremony at the end of Sunset March. Steve Morgan was very emotional and expressed his sincere gratitude to Jon Beale for the sacrifice of the 48 soldiers by saying: They died for me! After the ceremony he laid a wreath to honor the 48 American Soldiers of 82ND Airborne Division.
I was honored to represent the 504th PIR and 82nd ABN DIV and lead the March on the 71st Anniversary of Operation Market Garden this year. Forever thankful to those brave men who paved the way for a better Europe and world. ‘we will remember’ 20 September-
I just learned about the Sunset March while visiting my friend, Dorien te Pas in Wijchen. We went to the ‘Crossing’ and noticed a single man walking towards us on the bridge. It was Wim van Mierlo, the Dutch Army Veteran who was scheduled for the night walk. We introduced ourselves and I learned that I was the first American to make this Sunset March since it began. I am honored to be the first, but mostly so proud to know that the 48 American soldiers that died on September 20, 1944 are being memorialized through such a tremendous effort by the Dutch Veterans and people of Nijmegen.
The experience is so moving as you walk along with the lights turning on, one by one as you ‘march’ across the bridge. The structure is so beautiful and the meaning of each Sunset March so powerful. I also learned that most nights the single Veteran makes this walk alone due to lack of awareness of the people. If you are reading this, please inform your friends and family to come join the Veteran. You will have a beautiful experience.
26-08-2024 Alan Driver
I definitely had some issues with the language barrier, but it was great to have a chance to do the walk. Please pass along my thanks to your entire group. My father was aware of the support from the people of The Netherlands and he was very appreciative of it. He always wanted to return here someday, but he never got the chance. It meant a lot to me to be able to come in his place.
Alan Driver
01-06-2024 – Craig Caldwell
North Shore Legacy Tour: 80th Anniversary of D-Day
On June first 2024 our 273 canadian students, teachers and local tour guides participated in the daily Sunset March held in Nijmegen at the place the Waalcrossing took place on September 20th 1944. Each evening a veteran walks the same route using the newly build bridge call The Crossing.
48 lamppost join the veteran and all the participants from south to north on its way to the famour town of Arnhem. Both the crossing and the battles in Arnhem are captured in the movie a Bridge to far.
And as part of our tour for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, we joined a group of about 15 Norwegian Veterans doing the Sunset March. They were also heading for Normamdy, but on their motorcycles.
Our full journey can be seen here. https://www.eftours.ca/educational-tour/DDEC?utm_source=brochure&utm_medium=offline&utm_campaign=tourcode
Craig Caldwell
Director of Schools
Anglophone North School District, NB
Canada
13-05-2024 Thank You!
It was an honour to serve as the Veteran of the Day for the Sunset March. As a former member of the 8th Canadian Hussars with a number of WW2 8th Hussars buried in Groesbeek and the grandson of a soldier who served with the Canadian Scottish Regiment buried in Groesbeek, taking part was incredibly meaningful for me and my family. Thank you Team Sunset March and Team31.
Sean Wallace
Saturday, I lead the Sunset March as veteran of the day. A very Emotional experience. Shared, with my Wife & Daughter from UK, and all my Dutch Friends. It will be a beautiful memory for years to come.
Beste Sunsetmarcher,
Bedankt voor het mogen bijwonen van de sunset march op zaterdag 26-8-2023.
Tevens was ook de herdenking voor de 25 gevallenen van de ISAF.
Dit was indrukwekkend, eervol en ook goed georganiseerd.
Bedankt!
My husband and I were able to visit Nijmegen several years ago.
We saw the Oversteek Bridge and learned of the history.
Unfortunely, we were not able to witness the daily Sunset March.
We wish to thank all the participant’s that have honored and paid their respect to the Allied soldiers by participating in the daily march and to the people of The Netherlands for honoring the Allied soldiers and never forgetting them.
Thank you so much.
On Saturday, May 5th, 2018, I was honored to be recognized as the Veteran of the Day and to forever become a part of the Sunset March.
As a Veteran of the United Stated military, it was humbling to see the dedication made each and every day to recognize the sacrifice made by those 48 US paratroopers on 20 September 1944.
I can not put to words the feeling I had while walking the bridge. A mix of sadness for their ultimate sacrifice but a feeling of pride. I am proud to be an American Veteran but I am also so proud of the people of Nijmegen for the creation of this amazing bridge and so proud of the Dutch Veterans who have taken on the task of forever remembering the sacrifices of so many during a time that seems so long ago.
May we never forget those sacrifices that allow us all to live as free people today.
Thank you for allowing me to be a part of the Sunset March. I will forever remember that evening and forever be proud to call myself a Sunset Marcher!
Sunset March Veterans, especially Kees Bleijerveld, Partners, and citizens of Nijmegen,
Sergeant William (Bill) Emil Kero, 82nd Airborne Division 307 Engineer Battalion Co C, was killed in action on September 20th, 1944, during the liberation of Nijmegen, fighting for the freedom of future generations. The oldest of seven children, from an American (Saxon, Wisconsin) farming family of Finnish descent, who previously lost his mother when he was 14 years old, courageously fought alongside his fellow brothers in arms in the largest airborne operation up until that point in WWII. For his extraordinary heroism, he was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Service Cross and Ridder vierde klasse der Militaire Willems Orde.
On his 97th birthday, representing the Kero family, I paid sincerest respects, to an uncle I had never met, by symbolically crossing the Waal river, during a Sunset March, bearing witness to his heroic “Sisu”, and then offering prayers for the 49 venerated soldiers voor hun Moed – Beleid – Trouw (for their Bravery – Leadership – Loyalty).
Please know that the Kero family is extremely honored, and deeply moved, by the touching memorial established by the citizens of Nijmegen. We are also truly humbled by the continued dedication to both remember and honor the fallen through the Sunset March. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to ensure that this significant piece of history is never forgotten.
Robert Emil Kero (son of Robert Herman Kero, USN WWII)
At the conclusion of the Sunset March September 16, 2017 the “veteran of the day” Colonel Jon P. Beale meets Steve Morgan who is a veteran of the fighting at Arnhem Bridge. Together they joined in the short but impressive ceremony at the end of Sunset March. Steve Morgan was very emotional and expressed his sincere gratitude to Jon Beale for the sacrifice of the 48 soldiers by saying: They died for me! After the ceremony he laid a wreath to honor the 48 American Soldiers of 82ND Airborne Division.
I was honored to represent the 504th PIR and 82nd ABN DIV and lead the March on the 71st Anniversary of Operation Market Garden this year. Forever thankful to those brave men who paved the way for a better Europe and world. ‘we will remember’ 20 September-
All The Way!
Cav
CPT Alvin Cavalier
Fort Bragg, USA
I just learned about the Sunset March while visiting my friend, Dorien te Pas in Wijchen. We went to the ‘Crossing’ and noticed a single man walking towards us on the bridge. It was Wim van Mierlo, the Dutch Army Veteran who was scheduled for the night walk. We introduced ourselves and I learned that I was the first American to make this Sunset March since it began. I am honored to be the first, but mostly so proud to know that the 48 American soldiers that died on September 20, 1944 are being memorialized through such a tremendous effort by the Dutch Veterans and people of Nijmegen.
The experience is so moving as you walk along with the lights turning on, one by one as you ‘march’ across the bridge. The structure is so beautiful and the meaning of each Sunset March so powerful. I also learned that most nights the single Veteran makes this walk alone due to lack of awareness of the people. If you are reading this, please inform your friends and family to come join the Veteran. You will have a beautiful experience.
Thank you to all Veterans.
Jan Kolodny
California, USA