As a former Spitfire pilot, which flew 60 missions over the Nazis occupied by the Nazis during World War II, George Brewster is not easy to sand.
He says, however, that experiencing the warmth and gratitude of the Dutch who came out to comfort him and other Canadian veterans of the Second World War this weekend, made it without a word.
“This is a miracle,” said a 102-year-old resident of Duncan, BC, who visits the community in the Netherlands as part of the Canadian delegation to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of the war.
Twenty -two Canadian vets, aged 96 to 105, traveled a long transatlantic journey. Several, such as Brewster, saw the action in the sky, in sea or on earth in the Netherlands during these key last months of intensive fight.
“When you meet people, you realize how kind and kind they are and how they remember. And this memory is something that is in my head,” said Brewster CBC News.
On Saturday, thousands of inhabitants of the city of Apeldoorn, which were liberated by the Canadian army, on April 17, 1945, put on streets and draped Canadian flags from balconies as a parade with veterans and Dudi turned the road through the streets.
Volunteers distributed Canadian flags and high heels, and many nearby houses were decorated with red maple leaves.
Honest gratitude
Brewster and other veterinarians, who were mostly pushed in wheelchairs, were treated as celebrities, and observers extended their hand to embrace their hand and thank you.
“I am a very ordinary person who survived many unusual events, but only thanks to God's grace. And I am humiliated,” he said.
Pushing through the Netherlands and Rhineland by the first Canadian army in 1944 and 1945 brought a series of cruel and ultimately decisive battles that helped sea the defeat of the Third Reich of Adolf Hitler.
Of the about 175,000 Canadian soldiers who served in the first Canadian army, 6700 were killed.
He is a Canadian general who finally accepted the submission of Nazi forces in the Netherlands in Wageningen on May 5, 1945, the date, which the Dutch now calls “the day of liberation”.
Because the country is in the face of heavy hunger because of the raw winter and inhuman treatment by Nazi occupiers, Canadians saved countless Dutch from death, quickly bringing food inventory and staying for months later until the population could stand alone.
“We are simply grateful to those from abroad who came to our little country and freed us,” said 57-year-old Ronald Grin, who participated in the Apeldooren parade with his 27-year-old daughter Shawna.
“We love them and they love us”
“They (veterans) deserve everything – we must welcome them back. The youngest is 96 years old, and this says how much we love them and love us.”
Shawna Grin said that she visited all nearby cemeteries with a dead Canadian war. The fact that there are 16-year-olds among them leaves her without a word.
“Seeing that they were young, die for my freedom, it means a lot to me.”
Traveling with war veterans is over 200 other Canadians. Many are close to the family of soldiers who fought in the Netherlands campaign.
Ellen Mole from Etobicoke, Ont., Did not travel with an official delegation, but she said that she felt forced to follow emotional experience, being part of the Duda team during the 2010 celebration.
“It was only one of the most amazing experiences in my life,” she said, stopping her tears.
“I was very proud that I was a Canadian. I really understood the love and gratitude of the Dutch how important our place could be and how we can help the world.”
For veterans it was also a clearly emotional day – especially for William Seifried, who celebrated his 100th birthday on Saturday. When the news spread, some in a large parade sang all the best on their birthday.
Seifried served as an infantry with Royal Regina rifles and acted as a scout from the front, especially dangerous work.
Conducting the Canadian delegation of veterans is a 101-year-old honorary General of Lieutenant. Richard Rohmer, who served as a reconnaissance pilot in the sky over the Netherlands, and later moved to an outstanding career in a peace in the Canadian army.
Rohmer told CBC that he hopes that Canadians are establishing a relationship between the liberation of the Netherlands 80 years ago and the need to maintain strong collective security relations, such as NATO, which can weaken US President Donald Trump.
“One of the things we must do in our country is to pay more attention than about our own defense,” said Rohmer.
“NATO is a very important partnership … and seeing how it started to fall a bit, it is not very encouraging, because great nations, such as Russia and others, will benefit, if possible. So I hope that Canada will make its part, fully.”
The Apeldooren parade is one of several commemoration this weekend.
Canadian Governor Mary Simon He is to put a wreath on Sunday at the Holten Canadian war cemetery, and the next day he will take part in the events commemorating Wageningen.