http://www.nieuwsblad.be/Article/Detail.aspx?articleID=GV52GVRG3
The above link won't be readable by most since it's in another language, but I placed it here to show how outraged people were by this proposal.
Reg Jans sent this to me. I have attempted to translate it using one of my favorite free web translators. It did a pretty good job. Looks like I will have to change a few things, but right now, you will get the drift of the article.
============= Translation
22/10/2009 A veteran salutes for a paspop that general McAuliffe proposes: the closings of the barracks of Bastogne experience they as a big blow.
American veterans angry on minister De Crem General McAuliffe had during WWII headquarters in barracks that now closed must
NVT - American veterans are fierce over the closings plan of minister of Defense De Crem for the Heintz-barracks in Bastogne. From that had general McAuliffe during the Ardennes offensive its headquarters and spoke he against the Germans the famous 'Uses!'. That minister of Defense Pieter De Crem (CD&V) in our country 23 army barracks want to close, is come also American veterans of the Second world War - and especially that of the Ardennes offensive - to ear. The veterans are angry because De Crem in Bastogne the Heintz-barracks want to close. And that is not just a barracks. 'No', says Reg Jans, that now and then American veterans takes around visits in Bastogne and with them invariably the barracks. 'In the cellars of the barracks had the American general Anthony McAuliffe during the Ardennes offensive its headquarters.'
When the Germans McAuliffe in December 1944 in its headquarters came tell that he self better wanted to deliver, spoke the general it since then legendary word Use! out. of. Today almost daily American veterans come visit the battlefield of the Ardennenoffensief and regularly leads Reg Jans them to the former headquarters of McAuliffe, that volunteers as a small museum organized. 'Many have been put on as they that come', says Jans. 'Your state that really in the heart of the Ardennes offensive. In that barracks, McAuliffe has met with Eisenhower and with Patton. That is a historical spot.'
That that now threatened becomes, makes many Americas angrily. They mail on different internet forums indignant reactions. 'It became a shame that the efforts of the American soldiers now forget through the men that they at that time defended', writes a Michael Billingsley. Stan Talks writes: 'My father fought in the Ardennes. When he years later on to Belgium returned, became he with open arms goods received through the men that he there wanted to learn know. The Belgian population is not the efforts of the Americas forget, but the Belgian government evidently well!'
'I feel myself quite badly through this news', says veteran Don Burgett. 'My comrades that died during the Ardennenoffensief, rest in peace because they know that their offering geapprecieerd becomes through the men for who they this did. With one pen feature does a politician that to nought.,. I hope that the Belgians self by the next elections that politicians will remind.'
'This affair lies zéér sensitive at the American veterans', says Filip Willems, an Easterly-Fleming that the memory of the 101ste Luchtlandingsdivisie of the Americas holds vividly. That an important role played during the siege of Bastogne. 'That men their life risked that and gave many that also their life. They peck it not that there at a symbol as the former headquarters of McAuliffe is hit. I understand them sore good.'
