Here is the article about André, Pierre and Mayor Leers Welcoming the

Liberators of Maastricht on September 12, 2009. There are photos

below of this gathering ...

A Special Meeting With Rieu

And The Liberators of Maastricht

André Rieu will, at the request of Mayor Leers, welcome the liberators of South Limburg to his Castle on the St Pietersberg this Saturday.

The city of Maastricht, under the slogan of "Liberation and Meeting", is placing a lot of emphasis for the next few days on the fact that 65 years ago this month, the region was liberated from the oppressive bondage of the Nazis.
When the question was put forth to Gerd Leers to welcome the war veterans, he immediately answered with a resounding "YES".

The world famous Maastricht citizen has to pull all his tricks out of the bag in order to arrive on time to his own Castle as he is presently on tour in Germany. After his concert in Saarbrücken, he will go directly to his home. After meeting with the American War Veterans, he will immediately return to his orchestra for a concert that same evening.

For many Americans this meeting will be the highlight of their stay in Maastricht. Rieu is also known in the United States of America as a great performer. Thanks to John for the Translation!

Here is a link to a story out of San Diego, California of one of Six American Veterans that have gone to Maastricht for it's Liberation Day. ►San Diego Vet Goes To Maastricht For Liberation Day

This is a second really nice story of a woman from Florida that has gone to Maastricht also. What an amazing story she tells, including starting the Adopt a Grave Program at ►Margraten just outside of Maastricht. ►Elsa White's Story of Maastricht's Liberation

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Visit With Rieu is More Important Than The Book

UPDATE On: ►Elsa White's Story of Maastricht's Liberation
Elsa Hanöver (White) is certain, "My father built your first violin. He was the owner of the music store in Maastricht", she tells André Rieu.

Even without this knowledge the violinist and orchestra leader admits that he loved the “blackmail" by this 87 year old lady. She wrote Mayor Leers informing him that she was wanting to travel to Maastricht to partake in the 65 years celebration of the liberation, under one condition: that she could meet André Rieu.

Rieu interrupted his Concert Tour in Germany to join a luncheon with the veterans in his Castle.

This weekend a book about Hanöver was released: "Else Hanöver, War years in Maastricht". During the war (1940-1945) she was a secretary to Nazi Party Member and Mayor Peeters and she passed all municipal secrets on to his predecessor Michiels van Kessenich. During the liberation time she showed the Americans "suspected buildings", since she knew where explosives were stored. That's how several bombs were disarmed.The resident of Florida (Hanöver) established a deep friendship with the first American liberator Wilson White.

After the war they kept in contact and married 38 years later. Regretfully White did not live to see the release of her book. Hanöver is very proud of the book, but views André Rieu as the highlight of her visit.

I hope he will soon come to Jacksonville and when he sees me, will say just like Luciano Pavarotti once did very spontaneously: “Hi Elsa!!” ~Thank you to Ineke and John for this ...