May 4: remembrance day
May 5: freedom day.
I remember
And I've learned from thepast
that war is no solution.
And I stand up
for freedom
for each and every citizen
of my country
and of the world.
In The Netherlands we have a logical but unique combination of days: may 4 and 5: remembrance day and freedom day.
On June 6, 1944 in Normandy a huge military operation started to free europe.
A huge number of troops landed. The soldiers came from England, Canada, Australia, Amerika, Poland, The Netherlands and many more european countries.
Young men who had been able to flee to England had joined the forces there to take part in liberating Europe.
During 2004 and 2005 sixty years of freedom are commemorated and celebrated throughout Europe.
Last year, in September 2004 it was exactly sixty years ago that the allied forces began their fight against the German occupiers in The Netherlands.
They were joined by the resistance.
Parts of the south were freed, but it took longer to free the complete country.
So many Dutch people suffered from hunger during the winter and some cities sufferent all the problems of being a frontline city. (Including the town where I live.)
On May 5, 1945 the german army surrendered and our country was considered free.
It was unknown at the time that at Texel a group of Georgian soldiers were fighting the german army.
This battle ended two weeks later.
May 4th is remembrance day and may 5th Day of Freedom.
May the 5th is a day of celebrations all over the country.
The day starts traditionally with the ignition of the "Fire of Freedom".
3700 walkers from 220 places have carried the fire to Wageningen, the city were the germans signed the capitulation.
Together they've walked half the circumference of the earth.
There is something to do for each agegroup. Children engage in competitions who have the nicest decorated bike, for instance.
For young people, for instance, music festivals are held.
There are also parades.
We love to celebrate with the veterans, to thank them for our freedom.
Each year many visit our country just for may 4 and 5.
Untill this year a special parade was held at Wageningen, where Prince Bernard was from 1988 - 2004 the Parade Inspector and took the salute.
He passed away in December 2004.
This year Crown-Prince Willem-Alexander, following the wishes of his grandfather, took the salute in Wageningen at a march-past of veterans, former resistance fighters and troops during the commemoration of the liberation. The National Committee Commemoration Capitulations 1945 Wageningen organized the event.
It is said that this is the very last time that the march-past is held in Wageningen. But many Dutch are sure that an event like this will take place next year too. In another form at another place perhaps.
The veterans will meet each other at a new traditional day: Veterans day, held at june 29th, the birthday of Prince Bernard.
This year 140.000 visitors crowded the streets of Wageningen.
5000 people walked in the parade and many veterans from The Netherlands and abroad had a perfect time.
Special visitor was the Governer General of Canada.
In the rest of the country less militaristic events took place.
Each of the twelve provinces organized a Liberation Festival.
The day ended with a huge open air concert on the canals of Amsterdam in presence of the Queen.
Traditionally she left in a boat, while thousands of people both on land and on the water sang "We'll meet again", which was sung in the past by Vera Lynn.
Following freedom day there are some more events on the days after this, because veterans appreciate attending most of them.
In Groesbeek at may 7th a battlefield tour will be held in honor of Operation Market Garden and Operation Veritable in Groesbeek.
In Nijverdal, the same day, Canadian veterans join in a memorial service.
May 8 will an International veterans’ parade be held in Apeldoorn, attended by war veterans from America, Canada, England and Poland. Princess Margriet will be present at this service.
In Margraten will a commemorative service be held at the war cementary in the presence of president bush of america.
Not all people value his presence as we Dutch want all people on this world to live without war and oppression.
Freedom in The Netherlands is a kind of freedom that grants freedom of every aspect of life, without invading the freedom of others.
That means we have freedom of speech, religion, movement, everything.
Last year though we all had to take the consequences of the trend in the world towards more control.
We have to carry our passport of other identitycard with us all the time.
Most of us hate it.
It reminds the elderly of the second world war, where our country suffered very badly under the germans.
We wouldn't be Dutch if we wouldn't take this as one more aspect of life to inspire us to be grateful for freedom.
