As we landed in Germany from our cruise, jared and I looked out the window and were elated to see that Fall was still here! I LOVE Autumn and was worried that all the colored leaves would be gone when we got back and I would miss our first Fall season in Germany. Nope- Fall was in full swing and we didn't waste any time enjoying it. Grandma Karyl had two more days with us before she flew back to Utah so we headed for Luxembourg with her for a fun day trip on Saturday.
We made a quick stop at an American Military Cemetary on our way. General Patton is buried here.
George Smith Patton, Jr. (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945) was a
United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a
general during
World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.
Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from the
U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1909. In 1916–17, he participated in the unsuccessful
Pancho Villa Expedition, a U.S. operation that attempted to capture the Mexican
revolutionary. In World War I, he was the first officer assigned to the new
United States Tank Corps and saw action in France.
[1][2] In World War II, he commanded corps and armies in
North Africa,
Sicily, and the
European Theater of Operations. In 1944, Patton assumed command of the
U.S. Third Army, which under his leadership advanced farther, captured more enemy prisoners, and liberated more territory in less time than any other army in military history.
[3]
Not pictured: Daddy taking picture and Mom in the car with sick feeling Cole.
Our Charcoal Gray Honda Odyssey Van that we purchased just before moving here
It was lady bug season or something. Lady bugs were everywhere. You would be standing there and like 20 would fly and land on you. Hanna loved them, but Grandma did not!
We researched the history of Luxembourg and I read it several times during the car ride to Luxembourg. Luxembourg has a complex changing history with links to several other countries so I became further confused..... So for a condensed version of Luxembourg History from our friend Wikipedia, read on :
The
history of Luxembourg is inherently entwined with the histories of surrounding countries, peoples, and ruling dynasties. Over time, the territory of
Luxembourg has been eroded, whilst its ownership has changed repeatedly, and its political independence has grown '''
gradually.' Although recorded Luxembourgian history dates back to
Roman times, the history of Luxembourg proper is considered to begin in 963. Over the following five centuries, the powerful
House of Luxembourg emerged. Its extinction put an end to Luxembourgian independence. After a brief spell of
Burgundian rule, Luxembourg fell into the hands of the
Habsburgs in 1477.
After the
Eighty Years' War, Luxembourg became a part of the
Southern Netherlands, which passed to the Austrian line of the Habsburg dynasty in 1713. After occupation by
Revolutionary France, the 1815
Treaty of Paris transformed Luxembourg into a
Grand Duchy in
personal union with the
Netherlands. The treaty also resulted in the second
partition of Luxembourg, the first being in 1659 and the third in 1839. Although these treaties greatly reduced Luxembourg's territory, they increased Luxembourg's independence, which was confirmed after the
Luxembourg Crisis in 1867.
In the following decades, Luxembourg fell further into Germany's
sphere of influence, particularly after the creation of a separate ruling house in 1890. Luxembourg was occupied by Germany
from 1914 until 1918 and again
from 1940 until 1944. Since the
Second World War, Luxembourg has become one of the world's richest countries, buoyed by a booming
financial services sector, political stability, and
European integration. (Wikipedia)
It was such a beautiful time to visit and see the fall leaves and old park below
A few more lady bug friends
Gorgeous!!
This view point is incredible on a clear day:
