EvanL
05-06-2004, 11:05 AM
Thousands line streets to mark anniversary of Nazi surrender
By ROBERTA COWAN / The Canadian Press
WAGENINGEN, Netherlands - O Canada chimed on the hour from the bell tower of Amsterdam's Wester Kirk (West Church) on Wednesday as flag-waving Dutch residents again marked Canada's role in the liberation of their country from Nazi Germany during the Second World War.
Thousands of Dutch people of all ages travelled from across the country and lined the streets of Wageningen, a small town about 80 kilometres southeast of Amsterdam and site of the German surrender - to wave red and white flowers, Canadian flags and to cheer on a Canadian-led parade of Second World War veterans.
The Nazi surrender of the Netherlands on May, 5, 1945, was overseen by Canadian Gen. Charles Foulkes and Dutch Prince Bernhard in the bombed out dining room of the Hotel De Wereld. It came after five years of Nazi occupation.
Canada lost more than 20,000 soldiers in the Netherlands before the country was liberated.
"What the Canadians did for us is beautiful," said Annemiek Jansen, who brought her two young daughters to the parade. "I have goose bumps today - it's very emotional, even though it's a happy day.
"These old veterans are really wonderful and I want my girls to know this history, which is why I bring them here every year," Jansen added.
Maria van Laar, who has a flower shop on the parade route, spent the day passing out white carnations to the Allied veterans with notes attached reading: "Thank you for restoring democracy in the Netherlands.
"These men are fantastic and they've done so much for us," she said adding, "We want them to know we are grateful."
Memorials took place around the country on Tuesday, the biggest in Amsterdam where the reigning monarch, Queen Beatrix, attended an evening church service before a wreath-laying ceremony at the Second World War monument.
At midnight Tuesday night a flame was lit outside the Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen. Top Dutch athletes lit torches and started to run in the dark of night, each to one of the 13 major Dutch cities where they passed on the flame from the place of the surrender, marking the first morning of freedom.
Canadian Ambassador Serge April took part in the Wagenginen festivities Wednesday after having spent Tuesday in the north of the country retracing the route the Canadian troops took when they liberated the city of Gronnigen.
Prince Bernhard, father of the reigning Queen Beatrix, was driven by his wartime driver, both in their 90s, down the General Foulkes Way to the town square, known as 5th of May Place. The crowds cheered the prince as he gingerly made his way across the square with four school children to lay two wreaths, one as an act of remembrance, the other a symbol of hope for the future.
Canadian veteran Fred MacKenzie, who is originally from Montreal but now living in Switzerland, was stationed in the Netherlands during the brutal winter of 1944 when thousands of Dutch people died of starvation.
"I always go to Groesbeek Memorial at the Canadian War Cemetery near Nijmegen, but this is the first year I've come to Wageningen," said MacKenzie, who's confined to a wheelchair.
"It's wonderful to come back and to see the Dutch people, so happy and appreciative. It's always very emotional coming back but it's also wonderful."
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Thank You Holland :hug:
By ROBERTA COWAN / The Canadian Press
WAGENINGEN, Netherlands - O Canada chimed on the hour from the bell tower of Amsterdam's Wester Kirk (West Church) on Wednesday as flag-waving Dutch residents again marked Canada's role in the liberation of their country from Nazi Germany during the Second World War.
Thousands of Dutch people of all ages travelled from across the country and lined the streets of Wageningen, a small town about 80 kilometres southeast of Amsterdam and site of the German surrender - to wave red and white flowers, Canadian flags and to cheer on a Canadian-led parade of Second World War veterans.
The Nazi surrender of the Netherlands on May, 5, 1945, was overseen by Canadian Gen. Charles Foulkes and Dutch Prince Bernhard in the bombed out dining room of the Hotel De Wereld. It came after five years of Nazi occupation.
Canada lost more than 20,000 soldiers in the Netherlands before the country was liberated.
"What the Canadians did for us is beautiful," said Annemiek Jansen, who brought her two young daughters to the parade. "I have goose bumps today - it's very emotional, even though it's a happy day.
"These old veterans are really wonderful and I want my girls to know this history, which is why I bring them here every year," Jansen added.
Maria van Laar, who has a flower shop on the parade route, spent the day passing out white carnations to the Allied veterans with notes attached reading: "Thank you for restoring democracy in the Netherlands.
"These men are fantastic and they've done so much for us," she said adding, "We want them to know we are grateful."
Memorials took place around the country on Tuesday, the biggest in Amsterdam where the reigning monarch, Queen Beatrix, attended an evening church service before a wreath-laying ceremony at the Second World War monument.
At midnight Tuesday night a flame was lit outside the Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen. Top Dutch athletes lit torches and started to run in the dark of night, each to one of the 13 major Dutch cities where they passed on the flame from the place of the surrender, marking the first morning of freedom.
Canadian Ambassador Serge April took part in the Wagenginen festivities Wednesday after having spent Tuesday in the north of the country retracing the route the Canadian troops took when they liberated the city of Gronnigen.
Prince Bernhard, father of the reigning Queen Beatrix, was driven by his wartime driver, both in their 90s, down the General Foulkes Way to the town square, known as 5th of May Place. The crowds cheered the prince as he gingerly made his way across the square with four school children to lay two wreaths, one as an act of remembrance, the other a symbol of hope for the future.
Canadian veteran Fred MacKenzie, who is originally from Montreal but now living in Switzerland, was stationed in the Netherlands during the brutal winter of 1944 when thousands of Dutch people died of starvation.
"I always go to Groesbeek Memorial at the Canadian War Cemetery near Nijmegen, but this is the first year I've come to Wageningen," said MacKenzie, who's confined to a wheelchair.
"It's wonderful to come back and to see the Dutch people, so happy and appreciative. It's always very emotional coming back but it's also wonderful."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank You Holland :hug: