National Liberation Parade, Sunday May 9, 2010

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by Hendrik van Oorspronk

Hello, what a shame, the National Memorial for all Canadians is in Apeldoorn and in the villages around Apeldoorn are several Memorials wich are maintained by the local schoolchildren to keep the memory alive.
Each year on 11 november or the sunday closest to it, there is a ceremony at the National Canada/Holland memorial, a twin of this statue is in Ottawa.

http://www.monument.apeldoorn-onderw...met3hoeden.htm


Hendrik

Hendrik:

You may be pleased to learn that I walk past this statue twice a day. Teenage girls like having their picture taken holding their hands on the statue's backside.

That particular park has a very somber memorial plaque for victims of an Air India 747 that was blown out of the sky by terrorists killing all on board, including hundreds of Canadians. Off to the west is Queen Julianna Park where we often play soccer or ultimate frisbee. A few kilometers in the other direction is a monument to the female signals operators who did highly classified intercepts during WWII.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Department of National Defence
Jul 23, 2010 11:33 ET
A Day for Canadians to Honour Those Who have Fallen

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 23, 2010) - On July 22nd, the Canadian Forces contingent participating in the 94th annual International Four Day Marches Nijmegen visited the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in the Netherlands for a memorial service on the third day of the Nijmegen Marches in the year of the 65th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands.

Many members of the contingent considered their visit to Groesbeek the most important part of the strenuous four-day march, as it represents our history, sacrifice, remembrance, and the affection Canadians have received from the Dutch community since the end of the Second World War. The Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, which was opened on May 5, 1947 by Queen Wilhelmina, is the final resting place to some 2,338 Canadian soldiers and airmen who died in the battles to liberate the Netherlands in 1944 and 1945.

Gunner Jeffrey Rijnen, a member of the 3 Area Support Group Team, participated in the Nijmegen Marches as a way to honour his grandfather who served with the Dutch Army during the Second World War, was placed in a concentration camp, and was part of the force to help Liberate the Netherlands. Gunner Rijnen very quietly and emotionally described to the local Dutch how he is honoured to be marching the streets of Nijmegen and to be at the Groesbeek cemetery in a Canadian uniform. "The crowds always cheered for the Canadian teams," said Gunner Rijnen. "In my opinion, they cheered for the Canadians the loudest."

Corporal David Ogilvie, a member of the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) team from Colorado Springs, found the memorial service particularly emotional as his great uncle was the youngest member of the Royal Canadian Air Force to be killed in the war at the age of 18, and is buried at the Groesbeek Cemetery. He and his team took the time to hold a minute of silence at the grave site of his great uncle.

Many members of the Canadian contingent participated in this year's Nijmegen Marches as a way to remember those that helped liberate the Netherlands 65 years ago. The memorial service at Groesbeek gave everyone the opportunity to reflect on the past, honour those that paid the ultimate sacrifice, and understand the strong bond between the Canadians and the Dutch.

It was a day full of emotion for the Canadians on parade and our Dutch friends who stood and paid their respects as well. We will remember them. Lest we forget.

Notes to editor / news director:

Media agencies can request interviews with CF personnel in Nijmegen by contacting the Media Liaison Office at 1-866-377-0811 or 613-996-2353.

Still imagery is available on the Canadian Forces Image Gallery at: www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca

For more information, please contact
Information: 1-866-377-0811/613-996-2353
www.forces.gc.ca
Click here to see all recent news from this company

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Department of National Defence


Department of National Defence
Jul 23, 2010 15:54 ET
Canadian Forces Contingent Successfully Completes the Nijmegen Marches

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 23, 2010) - After four long days, 160 kilometres, and hundreds of blisters and sore feet, the Canadian Forces (CF) contingent successfully completed the 94th annual International Four Days Marches Nijmegen. Consisting of 189 soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen from units across Canada, the Canadian contingent can now put their feet up after having finished one of the most prestigious long-distance walking events in the world.

To complete the Nijmegen Marches, each participant marched 40 km each day, for four days in a row, while wearing standard combat clothing and carrying a military backpack weighing at least 10 kilograms. The contingent marched through the Dutch countryside and crowded streets of towns in the Nijmegen area – often walking the same terrain where many Canadians fell during the Second World War.

"It was an honour and privilege to participate in the Nijmegen Marches," said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, who marched with the Canadian contingent on the fourth and final day of the marches. "Walking on the same terrain on which Canadians fought exactly 65 years ago to help liberate the Netherlands, we could not help but feel proud to be Canadian. I would like to congratulate the entire Canadian contingent on successfully completing this amazing feat."

Led by Brigadier-General J.C. Madower, the CF contingent also honoured the thousands of Canadians who fought and died during the World Wars by participating in commemorations at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France, and the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in the Netherlands.

"Many CF members consider their visits to the memorials the most important part of the Nijmegen experience," said Brig.-Gen. Madower. "They represent the extraordinary affection Canadians have received from the international community and the Dutch people, in particular, since the end of the Second World War."

After completing the grueling 160 km march, the contingent then marched downtown Nijmegen for the Victory Parade – also called the "Via Gladiola" for the flowers thrown at the marchers along the way by thousands of spectators. Members of the CF contingent who completed the Nijmegen Marches then received the Four Day Marches Cross from Brig.-Gen. Madower. For the majority of the Canadian Contingent, this was their first Nijmegen experience.

The Nijmegen Marches is the world's largest walking event, and over 45,000 marchers from at least 50 nations, as well as over a million spectators, participate every year.

Notes to editor / news director: Media agencies can request interviews with CF personnel who participated in Nijmegen by contacting the Media Liaison Office at 1-866-377-0811 or 613-996-2353.

Still imagery is available on the Canadian Forces Image Gallery at:

http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca...e=combatcamera

http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca...e=combatcamera

http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca...e=combatcamera

Imagery and stories of the Nijmegen Marches are posted on the following website: http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/nij-nim/index-eng.asp

For more information, please contact
Information: 1-866-377-0811/613-996-2353
www.forces.gc.ca
Click here to see all recent news from this company