Ardennes relic

[John Gelotti]

I'll have to disappoint you but relic hunt in is not allowed in Belgium and France. As we all know it is still happening but I think it's good that the Government is strict against illegal relic hunt. One of the last times when I was In the Ardennes there where many places in the forests near Bastogne where you still could see fox holes, bunkers etc.. those were full of trash.My opinion is to leave all those places as they where and have respect for those grounds. You still must come to Belgium and France, there are hundreds of monuments and numerous museums where thousands of artifacts are exhibited.

[Clash77]

I can understand why the governments would not want people taking the artifacts. I mean, I didn't intend to leave with a truck load of them but I guess it's one of those things where if everyone takes something, eventually there's nothing left.
But I still have every desire to visit France and Belgium even if I can't take home some relics. I would love to see the battlefields, especially Normandy and the Ardennes since on my last trip to France I didn't get to see much outside of Paris and Strasbourg. It's such an incredible feeling standing on the same ground that some of the bravest men in history fought on.

[miuwcm3]

These M-1's are turning up all over. I am active duty army, and spent a year in Afghanistan (3-2006 thru 4-2007). While in Khandahar, my unti was staying at the SF area, and They had confiscated weapons there. 1 was a M-1 Garand that was found in a farmers haybale, with 5 rounds of Greek ammo. These guys only knew what it was. I got to talking with em, and ended cleaning it real good for them. This rifle now sit in the JFK Special Warfare Museum, at Fort Bragg, NC. Bad thing is, they had to demill it before bringing it home. Barrel and action welded and plugged.