11 december
Today Prince Bernhard was laid to rest next to his wife Juliana, who died less than a year before him. The funeral was full of military honours: his coffin was brought to the church on top of a horse-drawn 7-Veld field gun, used against the German invaders in May 1940. The road from the Palace in The Hague to the New Church (well over 13 km.) was lined with 6,000 military and 400 veterans, while the escort consisted of 800+ military on foot and horseback. Eight 25-pdr field guns fired salutes. Guests wore military uniforms as appropriate. While he was carried into the church, the Royal Netherlands Air Force saluted him with a missing man formation of three F16's and one Spitfire. It pulled up and then disappeared up into the grey skies above....it was magnificent and it moved me a lot.
I am proud to say it was well received, quite uncommon as the Dutch public at large is indifferent about military matters.
Hanno
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11-12-04, 21:47
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