Thick groves of trees lined the roadway. As they drove, the groves opened up into wide meadow plateaus. It was hard to believe such a horrific battle, the Battle of the Bulge, had happened in such an idyllic place. “How far are we from Bastogne?” Grand-Paul asked in a groggy voice. Ava had first heard the name Bastogne before she even understood what war meant. It was the epicenter of the Americans’ fight against the Germans. Thousands of men had died fighting for this position. Dennis glanced at the clock. “We passed Bastogne a few minutes back. I thought I’d stop at the hill where you first saw battle. Should be there in two minutes.” They passed another small village. It reminded her of something she’d see in a Disney movie. Farms and small houses with gardens. A gas station selling petrol seemed like the only modern structure. There was no Walmart. Not even a 7-Eleven. Outside the village they passed a sign that read CHENOGNE, 4 KM.
