Our neighbor remembers, vividly, the years of Nazi occupation, of his parents hiding downed pilots in their attic, caring for them while they await rescue by the underground.
Richard remembers, often teary eyed when the Canadians stormed their little town and the German soldiers fled.
The Dutch remember so fondly of being liberated that their children, grandchildren know the joy the nation holds for Canada and the Canadians who liberated them from years of tyranny.
PLEASE
Take a moment and view this short clip of the welcoming of the veterans who are heros to the Dutch.
2 years ago
"You guys saved my grandparents not just from occupation but also from starvation. My grandmom died last year at the age of almost 98, We will always remember you, the next generation too, we will always be thankfull for what all of you did. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 🇳🇱🇨🇦 Why do we Dutch people never have forgotten the Canadians? You have to be occupied to appreciate what freedom really means, and when you do, you never forget those who gave it to you. That's why Canada and so the Canadians will never be forgotten in the Netherlands by us Dutch people." Mandy M.
3 years ago
"One of my favourite stories -- told to the CBC by a Dutch woman - who saw some old soldiers arrive at the airport for an anniversary. As they began to haul out their passports, the guard stopped them and said (paraphrasing), 'you didn't need passports when you came to our country the first time, and you don't need them now.'"
Alan B.
Another perfect example of how fighting for freedom isn't ethnic in Canada.
I realize the video is from a few years ago and some of the heros have passed but the comments above show that the memories and gratitude remain.
Hello Jon
Thank you for the post on Dutch Liberation. My dad was a Lt. in the Black Watch during WW 2 & one of the Canadian liberators in Apeldoorn, Holland. He remained lifelong friends with a family that he stayed with there during the war.They are a forever grateful people to Canadian soldiers for their freedom. Following ceasefire, Dad's Company was on occupation duty in Varel, Germany. My Uncle died in Cassino, Italy, May 23rd, 1944, making the supreme sacrifice for the insanity of war. ~~~~Lyanne
Principal says Remembrance Day only about white guys.
"Principal Aaron Hobbs defended the selection during one of those meetings, saying it was chosen to bring diversity and inclusion to Remembrance Day that is usually only about “a white guy who has done something related to the military."
Photo credit to Unsplash
Photo courtesy InfoNews.
"Living inside a warm and friendly retirement home on Kamloops' North Shore (British Columbia) is a very remarkable man.
John Kuharski is 104 years old and the vision of health. He is also a veteran of the Second World War, one of very few still alive today."
Canadian Indigenous men volunteered to fight in WW1 for a country didn't want them.
Listen to this man explain that life in the military was superior to live in a residential school environment.
We must do better.