Why was an eagle sculpted after 65 years ?
Just to say thank you to our boys, on behalf of all the people of Bastogne.
This statue was made by a volunteer « Bastognard», Robert Remacle, who wants it to be close to the emblem of the 101st Airborne Division, the emblem of the United States of America.
It is dedicated to all the American soldiers whose units were surrounded in « the perimeter of Bastogne» from 21st to 26th December 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge. These units were organic or placed under the command of the glorious 101st Airborne Division.
Explanation of the Mardasson Eagle by Robert Remacle
“I tried to symbolically summarize the Battle of Bastogne.”
I started with the poster for the 40th anniversary: a simple helmet overturned in the snow.
It effectively represents the wounded, missing, or killed soldier; at least one in great difficulty.
The American Eagle, which is the Emblem of the United States of America (the explanation of this emblematic Eagle called “Old Abe” can be found at the end of the document), comes to the aid of its soldier. It is in the process of landing with its head turned towards the helmet (its soldier), as if it wanted to help him. (That’s what I wanted to represent); This is to recall the resupply by air as well as the arrival of Patton’s Units to come and liberate Bastogne.
The bald eagle’s head is white. This eagle was nicknamed “Old Able” by similarity with Abraham Lincoln, the American President of the time who also had a white head.
I had fun making all the striations of each feather. But in doing so, the tone of the stone’s color became a little whiter. How then to clearly indicate that it was a Bald Eagle, if not by sanding the head a little, which then became a little darker. That’s what I did. I did what I could to clearly indicate that it was a bald eagle.
You are certainly aware that the Bald Eagle is a fishing eagle, mainly in the Rocky Mountains. It is born completely brown, and at the age of 4, its head turns white.
I also tried to let it “sweat” its strength and power (of the American army).
As the stones from the Roches Quarry (formerly Delperdange Quarry) are mainly used for road paving, the stone that I was able to choose was therefore also dynamited. This is why you can see cracks in it, which greatly complicated my work.
I was therefore obliged to keep the part of the stone located between the two wings, and in addition, I had to drill 3 fairly deep holes in it and fix A4 stainless steel rods (against acid rain) with a double component that we had brought back from Germany and which is used to reinforce the solidity of bridges.
Gathered as a group of 4: Colonel Gelard, Patrick Dudekem d’Acoz, Roger Marquet, and myself, we wanted to dedicate this Eagle to “primarily thank and honor the GIs of Bastogne” (we couldn’t duplicate the Mardasson, which already honors all American soldiers).
We dedicated it to all the GIs whose Unit was at some point under the command of General McAuliffe, to clearly signify that it was about Bastogne (the “Nuts”).
Old Abe
A little reminder: Old Abe the Eagle was born in 1861.
In 1861, in Wisconsin, among the Chippewa Indians, Chief “Sky Chief,” “Aghamahwegezhig” in the Indian language, tried to retrieve 2 eaglets from their nest at the top of a tree. After many adventures, he managed to get one.
These Indians mainly bartered by selling maple syrup, furs, and moccasins. Later, while stopping at Daniel Mc Cann’s tavern near Jim Fall in Eau Claire, he offered him the eaglet in exchange for a bushel of corn (approximately 55 pounds). Mc Cann enjoyed playing the violin. The eagle liked it and would wander around to the sound of the music; when the music sped up, it would flap its wings.
In August 1861, rather than enlisting in the Civil War and especially considering the difficulty of feeding this eagle, which was getting very large and refused grains, Dan Mc Cann preferred to sell it to Company C of the 8th Wisconsin Regiment for a gold piece of $2.50; this regiment was commanded by John Perkins. The eagle was then christened “Old Abe” in memory of Abraham Lincoln (who had white hair).
Old Abe, attached to a perch, then served in the Army in Madison as a flag at the front of his Unit. Every time a battle began, he would get agitated, screaming shrilly and flapping his wings, which galvanized his troops. He participated in 37 battles and was wounded once, but not seriously.
In 1864, retired, he served for charitable causes and participated in Veterans’ meetings. He was exhibited at the First World’s Fair in Pennsylvania and became a true National celebrity. He died on March 26, 1881.
NB: The Bald Eagle is born completely brown, and its head turns white at the age of 7. It catches fish.
In 1918, the 101st Division was established as a Reserve Unit in Wisconsin.
In 1923, Shoulder Patch: the white-headed Screaming Eagle.
In 1942, with the 101st becoming a Parachute Unit, “Airborne” was added above the Patch. You can find all the explanations online by typing “Old Abe the Eagle.”