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Today it is commemoration day to remember all the once who have lost their lives in liberating the Netherlands (and the rest of Europe) during world war II. Hereby thanks to all who have participated in this sad period or lost close relatives and please do know we still haven't forgot your/their sacrifices...
The Dutch people were also very brave. They hid and sustained many airmen who were shot down over the Netherlands. In addition they were able to help some of them get back to England. The Dutch also hid and assisted many Jewish people who were escaping the **** purge. During this time some of the best of human traits were exhibited in many touched by the war.
Regards,
Alan
71 Coupe, 350/270, 4 speed
Mason Dixon Chapter
Chapter Top Flight October 2011
I had an opportunity to go to the Netherlands this time last year while I was stationed in Stuttgart, GE. A group from the base toured the battle grounds of Operation Market Garden and the memorials, cemetaries for the Allied airborne units in the Arnhem, Nijmegen and Eindhoven. I was very impressed with the number of homes that displayed not only the Dutch flag, but American, British and flags of the Airborne units that were part of the liberation.
Rob, Have you ever been to the Airborne Museum at Hertenstein in Oosterbeek? Very nice museum in what used to be the headquarters building for the German occupiers, then HQ for the British 1st Airborne. It was also very moving to see a few of the old veterans still coming to the cemetaries to lay wreathes and flowers and render a salute.
A Bridge Too Far was always one of my favorite movies growing up. Visiting the bridges and sites depicted in that movie was definitely one of the highlights of my military career.
I had an uncle that was in the battle of Arnhem as an English paratrooper. Until his death last year he went to the annual memorial every year. As an aside, he was hidden in a closet by a 6 year old Dutch girl for some time. She was very brave to risk everything for a foriegn soldier. At one point the locals did a version of "This is you Life" and reunited the two of them in a VERY touching show. If you every get to the memorial his name(and those of the other suvivors ( only about 30 out of several hundred)) are there I belive. His name is Donald Hardman. A very decorated man and a true Hero.
Although he was not in Holland for very long, my father fought to liberate Holland in 1945. He was part of the Royal Canadian Artillery, I Canadian Corps, who's Regiment fought in Italy and then was sent to Europe in beginning of 1945 to join in the fighting there. My father never talked much about the war....with the exception of his time in Holland. He wrote letters to my mother telling of the starving Dutch people and the food being dropped from the air by Canadian pilots. He wrote that the people painted "Thank you Canadians" on their roofs so the pilots could see it.
As a token of appreciation, every year since the end of the war, the Dutch people have sent 10,000 Tulip bulbs to Canada for spring planting in our national capital.
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