Department of France walks to commemorate Battle of the Bulge

Members of The American Legion Department of France participated in the 35th annual Bastogne Historical Walk commemorating the Battle of the Bulge.

Paris Post 1 Commander Carl W. Hale led a group of Boy Scouts of America Troop 457, who completed the 13-kilometer trail.

Hale and Adjutant Maurice Sperandieu (a WWII veteran of C Company, 512th Military Police Battalion, 3rd U.S. Army) participated in the wreath-laying ceremony at the McAuliffe memorial.

The town of Hemroulle was the sector honored in this year's march.

From historical documents: "Americans keep hold of the village" – Despite the incessant threats and attacks on Hemroulle, the village stays inside the American defensive perimeter. On December 22 (1944), the 1st Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment (1/502) of the 101st Airborne Division is defensing the Champs-Bastogne line. Whereas the regiment CP has set up at the castle of Rolley, the 1/502 CP is installed at Hemroulle with Companies B and C. The 463rd Parachute Field Artillery Battalion of the 101st AbnDiv is deployed at the south-west of Hemroulle and installs its CP near 1/502 CP.

Click here (http://www.legion.org/fodpal/photos/213252/department-france-battle-bulg...) for a photo album of the event.