IN THE COMPANY OF HEROES - Framed Collectors Piece

On a cold December day, veterans of the Battle of the Bulge reunite at the American cemetery in Luxembourg. Here, guarded by tall pines, rest the mortal remains of some 5,000 American boys who died fighting to liberate Europe. As the veterans reflect amidst the gently falling snow, their welling emotions confirm their often-stated belief: “The real heroes never came home.” Here, they feel a presence, a warmth amidst the cold. Something tells them they are not alone and this silent reunion is not the last.

Matt Hall’s evocative piece captures the moment 101st Airborne, Easy Company veterans Earl McClung, Bill Guarnere, Babe Heffron, and Don Malarkey pay their respects to close friend Skip Muck. At the same time they sense the presence of the ghosts of their fallen comrades: John Julian, Skip Muck, Alex Penkala and other lost members of Easy Company.

The men later agreed that their time in the cemetery, as captured in the artwork, was one of their most emotional moments since leaving Europe in 1945.

This piece has been beautifully framed to full conservation standards as a lasting tribute to the American Airborne divisions who fought bravely to liberate Europe.

“I treasure my remark to a grandson who asked, "Grandpa, were you a hero in the war?"
"No", I answered, "But I served in a company of heroes".
Major Dick Winters