This Memorial Day has a special meaning to me, and the hundreds of participants at the Battle of the Bulge Survivor Reunion and Monmument Rededication Ceremony that took place last Thursday at the Thorne Middle School in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown.
The event, which included a general assembly of the student body at Thorne and over 86 veterans of the Battle of the Bulge was organized by Edith Nowles of Brielle. Nowles is the sister of Cpl. Horace Marvin “Bud” Thorne, namesake of the school, who was post-humanously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism in the battle that cost him his life.
There was so much to be impressed with and moved by at this event. From the pride and happiness of the veterans present to the attentiveness and enthusiasm of the students, staff and faculty. From the courage of the eigth grade nominee for the Corporal Thorne Award who got out of her wheel chair and walked with assistance to accept her citation from Freehold John Curley and to join her fellow nominees on stage to the ovation her fellow students gave her when she did so.
Hopefully this slideshow will give a sense of how special the event was:
One of the most moving elements of the Reunion and Rededication was that all present got to “meet” Cpl. Bud Thorne. A video biography of Thorne, his life, heroic death and legacy,narrated by his sister Anita, that was originally produced for the 50th anniversary of the Thorne Middle School was shown to the assembly.
By virtue of the generousity of Edith Nowels, MMM is able to share the video with you. I encourage you to take the 12 and 1/2 minutes it takes to view it. It will make Memorial Day personal. It will give you an even greater sense of who the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom were and are:
When over 60 surviving members of World War II’s Battle of the Bulge reunite on May 26, 2011 at Middletown’s Thorne Middle School, they will be joined by representatives of Belgium and Luxembourg. Thorne School Principal, Mr. Thomas Olausen, announced today that Mr. Francois Knaff, Consul General of Luxembourg, Mr. Herman Portocarero, Consul General of Belgium and Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Eeecloo, Deputy Military Advisor of the Belgium Permanent Mission to the United Nations, would be attending the event.
The reunion will take place as the World War II Battle of the Bulge Monument, which is presently located at Fort Monmouth, is relocated and rededicated at the Thorne Middle School.
“It is so very appropriate that these diplomats, representing the countries where the Battle of the Bulge took place, be on hand as we honor these survivors of the battle”, Mr. Olausen noted. The Thorne Middle School is named for Corporal Horace “Bud” Thorne, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, who was killed in December 1944 during the battle that the monument commemorates. Surviving members of the Battle of the Bulge, from different parts of the country, will be in attendance. Principal Olausen further stated: “It is a wonderful honor for us to be able to host these members of the Greatest Generation and their families as we rededicate this symbol which honors the sacrifices made by so many. It will be a lasting and productive educational tool for our students as well.”
The event will commence at 9 AM in the school auditorium and the Middle School students will read essays especially prepared for the occasion. The Corporal Thorne Award will be presented to an 8th Grade Student who exhibits the attributes of Pride, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Excellence, which are the standards of Thorne Middle School’s Character Education Program. The school’s Chorus and Band will participate in the event. The monument will then be rededicated in an outdoor ceremony. Following the ceremonies there will be a reception at VFW Post 2179 in Port Monmouth. Special awards will be given to all of the surviving members of this historic battle who are in attendance. All World War II Battle of the Bulge survivors and their families are encouraged to register for the event.
The Thorne Middle School is located at 70 Murphy Road in Port Monmouth. VFW Post 2179 is located at 1 Veterans Lane, also in Port Monmouth. For more information and to register for the event please contact (732) 233-9443 or (732) 747 0160.
World War II Battle of the Bulge survivors will be together once more when the World War II Battle of the Bulge Monument, which is presently located at Fort Monmouth, is relocated to the Thorne Middle School in Middletown, New Jersey. Principal Thomas Olausen announced that the monument will be installed at the school and a survivors’ reunion and a “rededication” ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 26, 2011.
“We could think of no better location to place this monument then right here on our school grounds”, Mr. Olausen noted. The Thorne Middle School is named for Corporal Horace “Bud” Thorne, Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, who was killed in December 1944 during the battle that the monument commemorates. Surviving members of the Battle of the Bulge, from different parts of the country, will be in attendance. Principal Olausen further stated: “It is a wonderful honor for us to be able to host these members of the Greatest Generation and their families as we rededicate this symbol which honors the sacrifices made by so many. It will be a lasting and productive educational tool for our students as well.”
The event will commence at 9 AM in the school auditorium and the Middle School students will read essays especially prepared for the occasion. The Corporal Thorne Award will be presented to an 8th Grade Student who exhibits the attributes of Pride, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Excellence, which are the standards of Thorne Middle School’s Character Education Program. The school’s Chorus and Band will participate in the event. The monument will then be rededicated in an outdoor ceremony. Following the ceremonies there will be a reception at VFW Post 2179 in Port Monmouth. Special awards will be given to all of the surviving members of this historic battle who are in attendance. All World War II Battle of the Bulge survivors and their families are encouraged to register for the event. The Thorne Middle School is located at 70 Murphy Road in Port Monmouth. VFW Post 2179 is located at 1 Veterans Lane, also in Port Monmouth. For more information and to register for the event please contact (732) 233-9443 or (732) 747 0160.
