This year’s 40th Bastogne Historic Hike marked the 73rd Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Forty-nine Cub Scouts and their family members from Pack 457 braved the elements and made the one and half hour trip from Brussels to the hauntingly tranquil municipality in southern Belgium’s Wallonia region to pay tribute to those that fought and died on this battle field that still echos the sacrifices made there. Webelos (9 year old-4th grade) and Arrow of Light (10 year old-5th grade) Scouts completed the 13 km hike in just under 5 hours while the younger Cub Scouts (6-8 year olds) completed the 7 km hike in 3 hours. Several Scouts literally came one step closer to completing the Transatlantic Historic Trails - Battle of the Bulge Historic Trail requirements whereby earning a special patch that will be awarded to them for their knowledge and first hand experience of this historic event. In conjunction with the events in Bastogne, several Scouts participated in a wreath laying ceremony at the German Military Cemetery, Château de Recogne, located just outside of Foy, where some of the fiercest fighting took place. Once the Scouts mustered outside of the Cemetery Chapel, in the shadows of the more than 6,800 soldiers interned there, were simply asked “why are we here”? Several Scouts raised their hands but Thomas-Marlon Kulbickas, a 9 year old Scout from the Bear Den answered “in war there is suffering on both sides and we should pay tribute to their sacrifices and lives lost as well.” These Scouts have all been working on the American Overseas Memorial Day Association (AOMDA) “Price of Freedom Award” which requires them to visit a German Military Cemetery, but according to the Pack Committee Chair “...it’s not about the award, it’s just the right thing to do. 70 plus years following this devastating war one of our strongest allies today is Germany.” In a recent Stars and Stripes article (1) it was said that “If these men were alive today, and if they were serving the German army as they did decades ago, they would be allies of the American troops...” In this same article Lt. Col. Markus Stobbe, German liaison officer to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, said the eight soldiers died after fighting for the wrong political reasons. But that doesn’t mean they should be forgotten. “Those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country should always be honored and never be forgotten,” he said. “We are all soldiers,” added Sgt. Maj. Konstantin Jabs, also a liaison to USASOC. “Even if they fought for the wrong cause.” Cub Scout Pack 457 epitomizes Scouting in Europe, several Scouts are first generation American-Belgian, American-German, and American-Polish with close ties to their European heritage. In other cases some Scouts are not American but have found a home in American Scouting in Europe. “The unique opportunity and challenge is trying to recognize and honor these differences, which is after all what Scouting is all about” said the Pack 457 Committee Chair. (1) DREW BROOKS | The Fayetteville Observer, N.C. | Published: December 1, 2017