32nd Fighter Squadron monument

Along the A28 highway between Utrecht and Zeist near the town of Soesterberg a monument is erected as mark of honor for the tie of 40 years with the 32 Fighter Squadron.

In the fall of 1993 the Friendship Alliance Foundation made an appeal to the city of Zeist to realize a work of art as mark for the tie of 40 years with the 32 Tactical Fighter Squadron. Thanks to the financial support of: the Friendship Alliance Foundation, the Dutch Ministry of Defense, het Bouwfonds Cultuurfonds, the Province of Utrecht and the city of Zeist it was possible to carry out the appeal. The budget to realize the work of art was €80.000,-. Because of the particular character of the order several artist were invited to make a design. The artists were: Piet Slegers, Marte Rölling and Carel Visser. In February 1995 the order was granted to Piet Slegers. The Department of Public Works suspended a license to build it.
32nd monument along highway A28The work of art is rising out of the woods and is silhouetted to the sky. The reflecting of light is intensifying it. The two shapes holding up to one, an expression of the close cooperation, solidarity and watchfulness to protect peace. It is made out of stainless steel and weight 4 tons, excluding the concrete foundation.
On October 3, 1996, more than 2 years after the Wolfhounds left the Netherlands, the monument was unveiled. Major General TAD J. Oelstrom, commander of the 3rd Air Force RAF Mildenhall and mayor R.G. Broekhoven of the city of Zeist unveiled the plaque near the monument. On the plaque were 100 glasses with champagne. Later that day a reception, to the accompaniment of "The Blue Horizons", was held at the Castle Zeist. The wording on the plaque runs: In thankful memory of the American Military, who served within the USAFE's 32nd Fighter Squadron at Soesterberg Air Base, during the 1954-1994 period, including the "Cold War", to guard the Airspace of the Netherlands and other NATO countries in Western Europe. ".......want men voelt voortdurend, dat het erom gaat bemind te worden of the sterven ......" Stendhal.