Guestbook

My family and I stumbled on the Remember Museum when we were retracing our Dad's footsteps from Omaha Beach to Pilsen, CS. He spent Christmas Day at Abbye Val Dieu (which is close by). This museum is the best we saw in all of Europe! Marcel and Mathilde's story is fascinating and they have hearts as big as the whole outside for our veterans. GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO VISIT! You won't be disappointed!

Magnifique musée. Je le recommande chaudement. Les guides dont notamment, Marcel, sont des passionnés .

I enjoy your website and meeting you both through my father, Ben, who got the chance to meet you while in Belgium. Thank you for what you do to remember veterans. Susan

Dear M & M: Fantastic website and heartfelt thanks to you for your ongoing remembrance of the sacrifices of our WWII American veterans! Laurie

This is a wonderful museum owned by 2 of the most wonderful people that I have ever met. If you ever have a chance, please visit and get to know the M&M's and Marcel's story.....they, and what they do for WWII veterans is amazing.

Fantastique musée!
La visite est alimentée d'anecdotes fructueuses.
Marcel et Mathilde parviennent à communiquer leur passion aux visiteurs!
A voir absolument

-----Have you ever been invited into someone's home only to realize soon after that you had actually been invited right into their hearts? That's what it felt like for me when Bob Konings and Frank Gahagan took my wife and I to visit "The Remember Museum " The M&M.s!, next to Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in a small community called Thimister-Clermont. Mathilda and her husband Marcel, M&M, started the museum around 25 years ago and have been honoring WWII veterans and their families ever since. Just before the Battle of the Bulge Marcel was a little five seven old boy when the 1st Infantry Division was quartered on his parents farm there. Marcel himself was forced to attend a school in which he was not allowed to speak French, only German, then return to his home where he was not allowed to speak German. When Hitler initiated the Battle of the Bulge the 1st ID left in a hurry leaving behind many personal belongings and consequently had no one to return to collect them. With heavy casualties during the Bulge those belongings remained at the farm. M&M started the museum with those belongings to honor those heroes. By hand Marcel made all of the mannequins in the likeness of the soldiers who once wore the uniforms they are wearing in the museum. He wanted to display all of his newspapers and magazines from 39-45, so he built a newsstand in the likeness of one in a picture he had in order to display them. He had tanker uniforms and tank relics, so he built a tank for that display. He built a V1 replica to display while playing a CD that they had obtained that contained audio of an incoming V1 rocket and on and on. During our tour it seemed that Matilda had not forgotten a single detail of the veterans, or their thousands of relics and pictures that live on in the museum.
-----One of the many great stories that Matilda shared with us that day was that of a little baby girl whose dad was an aviator and crashed his aircraft near to where the museum stands. They had collected many pieces from the crash site, as well as a picture of the pilot holding a baby girl. That baby girl grew up yearning to learn about her father. When she would ask her mother about him growing up she would be told not to think about the war, it's in the past. She stopped asking until after her mother passed away. The baby girl, now grown into an elderly lady, was then lead to this museum through her research. Now there is a picture of an elderly woman next to the same picture who now knows endearing details of the sacrifices of her father, and now she has a picture of her with him that she never knew existed. She now even has a piece of the plane.
----Thousands of veterans have been honored and immortalized in this museum...to include several GOYAs. Many have come back to visit leaving their signatures on a WWII cargo truck, Mathilda can find every individual's name if you simply ask. It's rumored that their kitchen table is the most photographed kitchen table in Belgium. Generals, Diplomats, WWII veterans and family members have sat at that table. During WWII soldiers of the 1st ID were entertained there as well. So many have enjoyed the hospitality of two national/world treasures, Mathilda and Marcel. For me the secret to happiness in life is simple:keep honor centered in it. Honoring others is the best way to do just that. My wife and I were honored to be invited in that home, as well as thousands of others. M&M must be one of the happiest couples on earth, they sure seemed like it to me. I will never forget that visit. Much thanks to Bob Konings and Frank Gahagan!

Ein Besuch in diesem Museum lohnt sich !!!!
Eine Deutschsprachige Führung durch das Museum war kein Problem.
Sehenswert, und nur zu Empfehlen.

Prachtig en fascinerend museum, met persoonlijke rondleiding en het bijbehorende verhaal van vrijwel elk museumstuk. Indrukwekkende getuigenissen van de veteranen die er in '44 verbleven. Veel purple hearts, onderscheidingen en stars en stripes van deze veteranen.

Félicitation a vous deux et merci pour votre chaleureux accueil

Chers Monsieur et Madame Schmetz,
Chers “M&M’s”,
Chère Mathilde et cher Marcel,
(si je puis me permettre, comme les Américains, de m’adresser à vous par votre prénom...)

Ce petit mot pour vous remercier vivement et chaleureusement pour la visite, le 24 juin dernier, du “JOYAU” de votre œuvre commune : le
“ Remember Museum “ !
Les participants, Anciens de mon Régiment et de tous grades, ont été vraiment époustouflés non seulement par tous les objets exposés mais aussi, et surtout, par le respect et le souvenir témoignés à l’égard de tous ses braves GI’s venus délivrer nos contrées en 1944.
Dans ce “joyau” chaque objet, chaque scène et chaque photo ont leur histoire propre car vous avez le bonheur de la connaitre à travers les souvenirs de jeunesse de l’ami Marcel ou encore par le récit des vétérans US, et/ou descendants, côtoyés lors de vos rencontres avec eux lors de leur passage chez vous ou chez eux aux USA.
C’est tout cela qui fait la différence avec les autres musées que nous connaissons...
Le vôtre est UNIQUE car, grâce à votre engagement personnel tant sur le plan matériel qu’intellectuel, vous êtes des passeurs de mémoire incomparables d’un passé douloureux que beaucoup de nos contemporains ignorent ou, pire, ont oublié !
Je suis vraiment admiratif de vos personnalités respectives qui se complètent parfaitement... bref les “M&M’s “constituent bien le “couple d’enfer” (= exceptionnel) annoncé dans la plaquette de présentation du musée !
Ajoutez-y votre gentillesse naturelle, votre disponibilité exceptionnelle et la qualité de votre accueil et toutes les conditions sont réunies pour satisfaire tous vos visiteurs car ils se sentent “chez eux “...
Ils ont le plaisir de partager vos souvenirs personnels et même pour certains de reconsidérer leur opinion, parfois biaisée, sur certains événements de cette époque.

Encore grand MERCI pour TOUT et au plaisir de vous revoir,

N. SCHRÖDER
Président de la section Liège
Fraternelle Royale et Amicale
1er et 1/3 Régiment de Lanciers

Thank you for your hospitality the other day, when our group (from Mississippi) took your tour. OUTSTANDING!!! God bless both of you for keeping history alive. I will never forget you two and all the stories. If we never meet again, this side of Heaven, God bless you!!!

My mother, June Chesnick, was the one who named them M&M. We were told nicknames like that were generally not used but it sure has its appeal and now every publicity enjoys the M&M idea. They and several other Belgian friends of my father Francis have continued to send Christmas cards and other cards through the years. With so many traveling duties, I am amazed at how quickly the cards arrive after notifying them of deaths or sickness. The two of them certainly have admirable energy and compassion. We fly a Belgian flag at Dad's house (he passed away July 29, 2017.)

HAD THE GREAT FORTUNE TO MEET M & M AND STAY AT THEIR HOME WITH SOME MILITARY FOLKS, THE MUSEUM IS FANTASTIC AND THEY ARE THE BEST FOLKS EVER!!! LOVE TO YOU BOTH, I THINK OF YOU OFTEN AND WILL VISIT AGAIN ONCE I GET BACK TO GERMANY/BELGIUM.

Matilde and Marcel,
Hope you are both well, I think of you often and plan to visit again when I get back to Germany and Belgium. Love your museum and had the great honor of staying at your home with some Navy folks from Landstuhl ( Ron Naida and the group). Love you two !!
Thank you ever so much for your hospitality and the honor you give to our Troops!!
Karen

I have a deep love for this place and the M&Ms. I strongly suggest everyone make an effort to stop in and say hello.
Truly the M&Ms and the kindest people in the world.

Hello M&M! Jennifer and I are thinking of you guys. I am planning a visit for the WW1 Centennial. Will be in touch shortly. Miss you guys! ;-)

So nice to see your museum to the Allied soldiers of WW2. My father survived his participation as a member of the 7th Armored Division from landing in France in August, 1944 through the Battle of the Bulge, the surrender and on as part of the army of occupation. I am always particularly interested in the Bulge.

dit was mijn eerste keer dat ik het museum bezocht heb en ik was aangenaam verrast. Deze mensen begeleiden je in de rondgang met zoveel passie dat je je bijna terugvoelt in de tijd van toen.
Ik zal zeker nog terugkeren al is het maar om even hallo te zeggen.
Dank u voor de aangename dag

My late father-in-law (PFC Jesse Orosco) was in Fox Company 2/506th, 101st Airborne. A humble but proud paratrooper. He didn't talk much about the war until after he saw "Saving Private Ryan".

Thank you for being there and what you do to keep those long ago events relevant.

Un grand merci à Marcel, Mathilde et toute l’équipe de vaillants bénévoles qui font un splendide travail pour perpétuer la mémoire des héros qui ont combattu pour notre liberté . Leur musée mérite vraiment le détour et je le recommande à tous. Bonne continuation et beaucoup de succès pour l’avenir de la future fondation. Alain Charlier, Stembert.

My mother is a dear devoted follower of your Museum and I am so grateful for the care you have taken to preserve the memories of those like my dad, Capt. Robert Fowler , who fought with the 99th infantry.

Je ne connaisais pas ce musée. Je n'ai vu qu'une toute petite partie lors de la marche de Clermont Thimister. j
Je vai essayer de le faire connaître vu que je suis concerné. Mes parents sont allé dans les camps de Bukenwalt et RavensbruK. Papa a été tué dans ce camp, maman es revenue et mon grand-père aussi. Je suis très content d'être passé aujourdhui dans ce musée et je vais essayer de le faire connaître. Merci à Monsieur de m'avoir donné les éléments de base. Andre Michaux

Quelle rencontre extraordinaire et quel privilège d'avoir rencontré Marcel et d'avoir pu écouter son histoire ! Un musée inoubliable avec tant de témoignages et de souvenirs . Que de travail .... on a juste envie d'une chose y retourner et écouter Marcel encore et encore. Nous avons pu le faire en groupe en famille . Merci à vous deux.

This museum and M&M are unique and amazing not only because they tell such personal stories, but also because they continue to interact act and show their appreciation to current men and women of the armed forces. We met M&M in Feb 2006 after visiting my husbands uncle’s grave at Henri Chappell cemetery. They invited into their home and fed us wonderful Belgium waffles and then gave us a personal tour of their museum. We were blown away by Marcel’s amazing work of recreation and their true selfless dedication to the memory of those who “saved” them and their country. They went on to adopt our uncle’s grave with many others and arrange events to decorate these graves and honor past and current soldiers. This is an amazing environment of remembrance and love. We hope it’s maintained for generations to come.

Chers Mathilde et Marcel,

J'ai enfin pu venir admirer votre magnifique musée.

Je savais que j'y découvrirais des merveilles et la visite a dépassé toutes mes espérances.

Que de trésors, que de souvenirs et d'histoires derrière chaque scène, chaque mannequin, chaque représentation de la vie durant cette difficile période.

Tout est criant de vérité (par exemple j'ai cru revoir avec une précision incroyable la cuisine de mes grands-parents).

D'autant plus heureux que ma compagne qui ne partage pourtant pas directement notre passion a été très étonnée par la beauté du musée.

Rien ni personne ne saura jamais assez vous remercier pour tout ce que vous faites !

A bientôt, et je vous souhaite le meilleur

Amicalement,

I had the honor to visit Marcel & Mathilde’s Remember Museum for the first time in 2018 with my wife and son. We could not have been more impressed with the respect and enthusiasm M&M demonstrated for the American soldiers that touched young Marcel’s life ~75 years ago. Each room, diorama, photo, uniform, or artifact has a story that M&M remember with intimate detail and they are happy to tell you each one. They are truly walking encyclopedias with a passion for the history of WWII and how it dramatically impacted Belgium – and still does.

I had the pleasure of another visit this month with Albert Trostorf, organizer of the Conference for the American and German Veterans of the Battle of the Hurtgen Forest. We toured the museum with ~80 attendees, including two American veterans and one German veteran of the battle that raged only 15-20 miles east of the museum. M&M and the rest of the staff are the most gracious hosts imaginable and truly make you feel at home. This unusual and exceptionally interesting museum is well worth your time. It would take days to do it justice.

I have been able to visit the museum 3 times over the last 20+ years. Each time was just inspiring as the next. To all that have visited the museum should share this link to show others what we experienced. I was able to visit with my co workers from the 126th ARW. I like to wish both Matilde and Marcel the best and many more years to come. During one visit at the end of the tour we were invited to have dinner with them. It was the meal that Marcel wanted to remember ever since he was a young man. I truly enjoyed my time with them.
John

By the time I was able to visit the Normandy area I was over seventy years old, too old to rent a car and we had to travel by bus which only hit the highlights of the war in that area. I missed an awful lot! I was twelve years old when the invasion took place and it became a huge event in my childhood. Today I read an article in my local newspaper "New London Day" in New London, CT USA. I wish I could have met you both, but I fear Iwill not ever be able to do so in my lifetime. Keep up the good work and continue to commemorate the sacrifices of our young "GI's". Thankyou so much and God Bless you both.

I do not have the words to fully thank you for what you're doing. Your work and efforts are greatly appreciated by many of us. I am a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam era. I served for 3 years and, luckily, was able to spend my time in Germany. It's extremely important for us to remember our history and the sacrifices and hardship endured by so many. My parents were a part of the "greatest generation" and my thinking and values closely reflect theirs. It was a simpler time and many Americans did not fully see or understand the grim realities of war. As technology has improved since WW II, we are now able to see the violence immediately as it occurs in our world of today. I have read a lot about WW II, and my heart breaks for everyone affected by it. I am often grateful my country was able to help end that terrible conflict. And the fact that you two and others like you are honoring the memory of our contribution is appreciated. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Marcel and Matilde,
My fondest memories of 'the Museum' was when Matilde arranged for me to meet and connect with a Belgian woman who had befriended my father during WWII. My Dad's unit had been stationed in Liege and visited a family, two sisters and a brother, who warmly took them into their hearts and home. My Dad and his best friend spent a lot of time with the Mahy family and grew extremely close to them. They were close enough to have a group picture of them taken in 1944 and, in 2009, Matilde located one of the sisters and arranged for us to visit with her at her nursing home. I met with Odile and her family and was totally surprised when Odile produced and gifted me pictures of my Dad that she had held on to since 1944. She still had them in a photo album that she had kept all those years. Of course, these were pictures that had never been seen before by myself or the rest of my family. I STILL cannot believe how fortunate I was to have met both Marcel and Matilde and have them give me some memories that will forever be with me. The fondest memories during my four years in Landstuhl, Germany, will always be the adventure that Matilde and I took in finding, locating and meeting with Odile Mahy, one of my Dad's friends. Odile was identified by a couple of pictures and information that had been stored in my Dad's Army footlocker. My Dad is now immortalized in the 'Remember 39-45 Museum' as part of the collection of pictures of soldiers who were stationed in that area during World War II. Marcel and Matilde are, and will always be, remembered for their kindness and their love for the American people. I think of them both, often. If they ever visit the US, I hope that they know that 'Mi casa es su casa'... 'my home is your home'.
Sincerely,
GySgt Edmundo Rangel USMC(Ret)

Un très beau musée. Très intéressant ! Je recommande

La passion et l'Amour honorent votre Musée !
Toutes nos félicitations à vous, Mathilde et Marcel, pour avoir rassemblé et offert à nos regards autant de souvenirs qui ont tous une place dans votre coeur !
Merci pour votre chaleureux accueil, votre sourire et votre disponibilité !
Quel précieux patrimoine qu'il est important de soutenir et de promouvoir !
Bravo, on reviendra !
Respectueux souvenir, Michel et Lucie.

I visited with my Mom and Dad in 2002. PFC Lou Ravano from the 1st Division. He had been in the Battle of the Bulge . I will never forget that we arrived at the same time as a group and you invited us to have lunch there . What a wonderful museum . My Dad died shortly before the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in 2019. We hoped to make it back with him . That day was very special to us .