My father fought in the Battle of the Bulge, so thank you Rep. Joe Courtney for attending and writing about the ceremony at Bastogne commemorating its 75th anniversary “75 years later, reflecting on courage shown in Battle of the Bulge,” (Dec. 29). Sadly, this event received only scant coverage by the major media, so thanks go also to the Day. The Bulge was America’s largest military engagement in World War II, which ended Germany’s capability to launch offensive action.

After my father’s passing, I had the great honor to attend a reunion of his infantry regiment, which was part of the famed 26th (Yankee) Division. Under General George Patton, the 26th was one of three divisions to make the historical maneuver of traveling 100 miles northward in just two days to relieve the 101st Airborne besieged in Bastogne. At the reunion, I learned about the great hardships the soldiers endured, such as the bitter cold and living in foxholes for 30 days without a hot meal. Besides their great pride in being Americans, I was most impressed with their humility, always pointing to the heroic efforts of others and never their own.

We should never miss an opportunity to commemorate soldiers like these, who were the ultimate guarantors of our liberty.

Edward Kleinman

Stonington