It is the day to head for home after an incredible week! So we gathered together one last time this morning before five of us headed for home while Vince and Lynn stayed for a few more days in Amsterdam.
After a short walk to Centraal Station we took the Intercity train to Schiphol Airport. Even though we booked our flights at the same time Bruce and Jackie were on a different flight than us leaving 5 minutes earlier than us. So when we got to Iceland for our connecting flight we expected they would be there. However their flight was delayed about an hour so they made it to Iceland just in time to hop on the second flight. After 9 hours total of flying we landed in MSP around 7:00 which was actually 2:00 am for our bodies. And as always it is great to see Welcome to the USA! So we had decided in advance to spend the night in Minneapolis and then drive home tomorrow.
As I look back at this incredible journey that started with our first trip in June I am totally in awe of how this all happened. If Bruce hadn’t said he was going to Europe in June this wouldn’t have happened. If the windmill hadn’t been open on Father’s Day when we stopped in June this wouldn’t have happened. If we hadn’t met up with Erwin at the windmill this wouldn’t have happened. If Bruce hadn’t offered our father’s uniform to the museum this wouldn’t have happen. If Bruce hadn’t said he was returning to deliver Dad’s uniform this wouldn’t have happened. This was all totally meant to be and I am proud beyond belief that our father’s uniform is being displayed in honor where he served to give freedom to others. Thanks is not enough to express my appreciation to Erwin, Henk, Yannick, Mariane, and several others for their determination to keep the history of Operation Market Garden alive at the Geronimo Museum in the St. Antonius Windmill in Eerde, The Netherlands. They are a caring and passionate group of people who give of their time so graciously. I will forever be grateful to them.
Papa you make us proud.
Kathy
In Our Father's Footsteps 