Veterans reunion of the Belgian 16th Fusilier Battalion.
Our association was invited to the 16th Battalion Fusiliers Veterans meeting that took place at Namur (Belgium) on Sunday, 2nd April 2006. 
This unit was, as of April 1945 under the command of the Third U.S. Army in Thuringia.
The unit comprised six companies, which were responsible for an area of almost 1000 square Km. Their missions were patrolling, guarding different sites and controlling the streets.
The 5th company was responsible for the security of both the REIMAHG and ALBIT armament factories.
16th Fusilier Battalion veterans have met up together at reunions for many years. Around 60 veterans came to this reunion to spend a pleasant afternoon in a historical surrounding.
Also invited were Paul Baert, President, and members of the "Belgian Association of the former forced labourers of the REIMAHG camps", thus showing the close historical connection between forced labourers and their liberators. There were also some surprises during the day.
Paul Gennart, chairman of the veterans association gave to Steffi Brion, chairwoman of the Förderverein "Mahn-und Gedenkstätte Walpersberg", a commemorative plaque from the 16th Fusilier Battalion.
This plaque will be officially inaugurated during this year`s commemoration at the Walpersberg Mountain on 5th May, 2006.
Patrick Brion also had a surprise for the veterans: The official recommendation letter, written by the American Army to the Belgian unit for their unstinting cooperation in 1945, was handed over.
This document was discovered by Patrick during his archive research and was donated to Paul Gennart on behalf of our association.
After the official part of the reunion, the guests were able to view almost 200 historical pictures of the unit taken in 1945, on a large screen.
A group picture under a sunny sky and a good atmosphere closed this exceptional day.
Many new contacts with the veterans were made, as memories flooded back, and new information and historical pictures about the "REIMAHG" were donated to our association - a clear symbol of the acknowledgement and gratitude for the intense work our association has undertaken.
We would like to thank the veterans of the 16th Fusiliers Battalion once again for this lovely day spent together with them, and look forward of meeting them again in the beginning of May 2006 in Kahla.
