Today, on Veterans Day, a small town in Germany added a bit of its own touch to honor all the U.S. soldiers having served in Schweinfurt, Germany. The city has had two U.S. army posts – Ledward and Conn Barracks. Erecting this moment on German ground symbolizes peace and friendship, and honors all who served.

This has also been a great accomplishment for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). This is the first time ever a monument has been erected outside of a military post, said Armithea Sissy Borel, guest speaker and vice-president of the National VWF women’s group. She also thanked the city of Schweinfurt for a partnership lasting almost 70 years.

This monument honors all U.S. soldiers who have served their country (and ours) in more than sixty years. Credit also went to the partnerships and friendships between the Americans and the locals over the years.

Also present were the VFW commander Sean Hillyer and the very last U.S. post commander, Michael Runey. Both emphasized the friendship between the U.S. and Schweinfurt as well as the longest period of peace in history. By the time the U.S. military pulls its last troops in 2014, the mission has been accomplished – to see Germany through the Cold War.

The monument is located in the Alte Friedhof (Old Cemetery), which is also the final resting place for about 40,000 locals.

The eagle, designed by the local artists Steff Bauer and Sören Ernst, is not only representative of the United States eagle, but is also the heraldic charge for both Germany and Schweinfurt.

A little souvenir from the Schweinfurt military post (1990).

To view the photos from the Main-Post Newspaper, visit: Regionale Fotos Main-Post. To read the complete article (in German), visit Der Adler verbindet die Völker (The Eagle Unites Nations) by the same newspaper.