While the popular media has been featuring holiday homes of "Deck-a-hall-ics" with over-the-top decorations, Greensboro has a house depicting a serious, historical event from Christmas 1944: The Battle of the Bulge. The house, photographed above, is located on Deep Green Drive, just off of Westridge Road, near Bryan Blvd. As seen in the sign, the three life-size soldiers (warming their hands over a fire) are replicas of soldiers of the 101st Airborne, "The Screaming Eagles." The Battle of the Bulge was fought in Bastogne, Belgium during World War II. With lawn after lawn brimming with blinking lights and inflatables, it is nice to find one that provides a different look at Christmas.
If you are really interested in military history, and this event in particular, we encourage you to read an online journal of the event, as told by Eduardo A. Peniche. Peniche, a bilingual, Mexican-American, provides a first-hand account of the event. After his military career, Peniche went on to become a professor of Spanish in Texas. Unfortunately, Combat Veteran/Professor Peniche died in 2008; he would have loved this tribute. As we enter this week before Christmas and with Hanukkah about so start, let us take time to remember that not every holiday is Norman-Rockwell perfect and let us be thankful if it is!
Addendum: We have just learned that a sculptor modeled the three faces after a photo of the homeowner's uncle, father, and father-in-law, who all fought at the Battle of the Bulge. The uncle, represented by the figure on the left, came to view the display last weekend. Touching!
this is an interesting display. i wonder where they got the soldiers, quite impressive!
Posted by: Tanya | Monday, December 19, 2011 at 07:10 AM
In a cemetery near my childhood home is a grave of a US soldier killed December 24, 1944 in Germany. He was age 19 when he was killed. I was at the burial when the remains were brought to the USA after the war ended.
His parents and siblings later became friends of mine.
Posted by: Ken Hill | Monday, December 19, 2011 at 08:42 AM
That little display must mean a great deal to the person who cares for it and who cares enough for the rest of us to remind us that all we have was not free,that it was earned throughout history by soldiers like these,by scholars and the regular people you see around you everyday.
A moment of introspection must be had by all who pass this way.
Thank you for sharing these gentlemen with a larger group.
Posted by: Janis of So Cal | Monday, December 19, 2011 at 02:21 PM