Motorcycle Memorial- 82d Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (2AD)
Details:
In the center of a roadway intersection.
A bronzed life sized motorcycle with the bumper number of the 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion (Headquarters-84), 2nd Armored Division on the fender. The motorcycle replica is of a WW2 era Harley Davidson WLA “Liberator”, which was used by military police and reconnaissance units. The memorial also includes a plaque and information sign.
The memorial remembers a scout of the 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Armored Division who was considered the first or among the first allied soldiers to enter Belgium on September 2, 1944; the town of Rumes was liberated the same day.
The memorial was dedicated in 2009.
Another nearby memorial, Liberation Bridge, (Site La Glanerie-Bridge), also remembers this event.
Monument Text:
The text on the plaque is in French and reads:
2 septembre 1944
En hommage au soldat americain
de la 2nd US Armored Division
qui, la premie, entra en Belgique, ici a, La Glanerie
pour liberer pays
et tous ceux se sont leves
per defendre la liberte, la justice et la paix
La population reconnaissante
2 septembre 2009
The translation in English:
2 September 1944
In honor of the American Soldier
Of the 2nd Armored Division
Here in La Glanerie, was the first to enter Belgium
To liberate the country
And to all those who stood up for justice and liberty.
