Soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division pose together with local civilians during a celebratory gathering in a recently liberated European town, circa 1944-1945. The bouquet of flowers held by the young woman reflects the gratitude many communities in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands expressed toward American paratroopers who helped liberate them from German occupation. Scenes like this illustrate the bonds formed between soldiers and civilians amid the upheaval of war. Project: 218672