Canadian veteran Jim Parks is preparing to visit the Netherlands again, 80 years after playing a role in the liberation of the country from the German occupation.
And he can expect a warm welcome.
“He is still our hero,” said Marco Kalmijn, who is part of the Canadian Liberators Foundation, which helps Canadian veterans visit the Netherlands. “Even after 80 years, he is still our hero here in the Netherlands, so we are very grateful that he can come back.”
Parks, currently 100 years, are one of the many Canadians who fought Germany in Europe during World War II. But in the Netherlands there is a special appreciation of the maple leaf.
About 7,600 Canadians died in the Netherlands from Hitler's embrace. Since then, the Dutch found many ways to honor Canadians who fought in their country.
There are monuments and cemeteries dedicated to Canadian soldiers who died during the fight. Every year, the Dutch also send 20,000 tulips to Ottawa. There are even Dutch streets named after Canadian war heroes.
And even 80 years after the war, people from all over the Netherlands find new ways to honor the dedication of parks and others.
“The valuable thing about the freedom that Canadian soldiers gave us, we must remember it every year,” said Kalmijn.
“Excited about returning”
On April 15, 1945, only a few weeks before Germany officially, the Royal Canadian dragons regiment was able to take the city of Leeuwarden in the Dutch province of Friesland from the forces of Osi.
Parks, who joined the army when he was only 15 years old, was to eradicate other German soldiers from the city.
At that time, the parks remember the search of the city and asked to throw a pomegranate into a village house, in which they thought that hostile soldiers could hide.
“I didn't like the idea to do this,” said Parks, who remembers vividly for a while. He says he has heard someone speaks the other side of the door.
“I opened the door and here is the whole Dutch family, about six people – mother, dad and four children … I often think about it, what happiness I didn't do.”
He says that the family was grateful to see him.
“They were very happy because we are liberators.”
Since then, the parks have returned to the Netherlands about 10 times. When he goes, he often visits Friesland and every time he was there, he says he was treated like a hero.
In a few weeks he will come back again.
“I am very excited that I can come back because you are always welcome there,” he said.
Honoring the maple leaf
On April 25, shortly after the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Leeuwarden, the city football team, SC Camburr, plans to wear a special Canadian version of their shirt, marked with maple leaves and the coat of arms of the royal Canadian dragons.
But not only the T -shirt will honor Canadian military efforts.
“We will play the Hymn of the Royal Canadian dragons. Our fans warehouses and everything will be in a Canadian style,” said Ruben Sijtsma, who talks about the club.
“Every little thing, every little touch that we can do in this game will remember and in honor, especially dragoons and Canadians in general.”
The idea was born for the first time in September, when the fans talked about the upcoming season.
Sijtsma remembers celebrating the day of memory, or CommemorationAs a child and mistaken why Canadian flags existed everywhere. But he quickly learned about the influence of Canadians on his country.
“Younger people know this story, but not as much as they should,” said Sijtsma.
“So we thought with a group of fans:” Hey, what can we do to tell a story and honor these guys “, but also tell an important message, such as” hey, freedom, this is not for certainty and we should always fight for it. “
He says that the community's answer was overwhelming, and the Canadian version of the shirt sold out on its website in just a few hours. They look at the possibility of more.
“We thank him our freedom”
Parks expressed a monologue for the team about the liberation of Leeuwarden and his time serving in the war.
“We are really honored that we can tell our story, use his voice in the film, because yes, if you see it … it's quite emotional,” said Sijtsma.
Watch SC CAMBURR HONORING Canadian told by Jim Parks:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3qt-ostfde
Kalmijn says that in Friesland Parks is well known. When he arrives in the Netherlands at the end of April, Kalmijn claims that there is a full plan of events for a Canadian veteran, including watching Affuitdijk, a Dutch war museum and a monument for Canadian soldiers.
He says that over the years, the Dutch will continue to celebrate parks and other Canadian heroes who fought for Dutch liberation.
“He is one of the last survivors of the Netherlands,” said Kalmijn.
“He was honored here in the Netherlands in a very nice and good way, because we thank him towards our freedom. And he also represents his companions who came up with war and are already dead.”