And this is why I love the Dutch! (Look how beautiful a gesture this is!)

[Silk]

I just wanted to share a video I found tonight on Youtube. I am going to throw it into the Misc. Forum because not too many people seem to come into History & Heritage forum and I hope people will see it and appreciate these wonderful people.

This is what the people of Holten (in the Netherlands) do on Christmas Eve.... (And I have to say the beginning part of the video looks like Canada to me.) Holten has a war cemetery from WWII by the way... many who fell liberating that area of Holland were Canadian Highland Regiments (the 48th and the Seathforth Highlanders are the main two forces that liberated this area.)




They also have two pipe bands they've raised to be a "living memorial" to the war dead there. The 48th Highlanders of Holland and the Seaforth Highlanders of Holland are both memorial bands for the Canadian regiments who fought there and the people not only travel around to the various war cemeteries and commemoration events to play but they even have taken it upon themselves to take care of those small monuments and gravesites that need attention. But even more, they have posted pics on their facebook page showing them gathering and playing the bagpipes at little roadside memorials after first cutting the grass and cleaning the stone and laying flowers.

And just that alone makes me think the Dutch are awesome! ;)

Here they are playing the pipes next to a small memorial to Canadian war dead along a road in Belgium (after cutting the grass around the monument, cleaning it and laying flowers...) They try to look after the regiment's graves in countries even other than Holland whenever they pass through as they consider them as family members!









Silk

[Baker04]

Thanks, very moving....my father served (and survived) with the Canadian Army during the liberation of Holland

[Nathan]

Wonderful post, Silk. That is a marvelous display of respect and gratitude. Proper thing.

[Grizzled Ian]

Thank you Silk,

It is important to us to know that the memory of our grandfathers' and great-grandfathers' generation is respected still in Europe. Our governments contribute (I am sure) to the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission around the world, which I have seen in France, Gallipoli, and Kanchanaburi in Thailand. It adds a real human dimension at the personal level to know of such happenings as the pipers of Holland, the daily evening service at the Menin Gate in Ypres, and the inscription above the school in Villers-Bretonneux, "N'oubliez jamais l'Australie". It means a lot to know that ordinary people remember.

[jetstar63]

Just beautiful.

[Silk]

Thank you Silk,

It is important to us to know that the memory of our grandfathers' and great-grandfathers' generation is respected still in Europe. Our governments contribute (I am sure) to the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission around the world, which I have seen in France, Gallipoli, and Kanchanaburi in Thailand. It adds a real human dimension at the personal level to know of such happenings as the pipers of Holland, the daily evening service at the Menin Gate in Ypres, and the inscription above the school in Villers-Bretonneux, "N'oubliez jamais l'Australie". It means a lot to know that ordinary people remember.

Yes it really does! I confess I shed a few tears when I saw pics and videos of all they do to honour our dead.

Does Australia have any particular area of the world where she took great losses in the world wars and/or formed a special bond with any particular country? Any particular war memorial outside of Australia that would mean a lot for you to see? I dream of seeing Vimy Ridge but I also want to see Holten and others too.

Silk

[Walter82]

That brought a tear to the eye. What a wonderful thing to do. My great uncle, a proud scot, died on Armistice day near Ypres. I am so very touched to see a community remembering the sacrifice made by so many and from many countries and walks of life. It must be a great community to live in.

[Downunder Kilt]

Yes it really does! I confess I shed a few tears when I saw pics and videos of all they do to honour our dead. Does Australia have any particular area of the world where she took great losses in the world wars and/or formed a special bond with any particular country? Any particular war memorial outside of Australia that would mean a lot for you to see? I dream of seeing Vimy Ridge but I also want to see Holten and others too.Silk

Most certainly, where do you want to start, Boer war the Bushveldt Carbineers in the Northern Transvaal , WWl at Gallipolli in Turkey, the Western Front France, The Australian Lighthorse at Bersheeba. WWll, the Kakoda Track PNG, Changi Thai-Burma Railway (start to finish), France in numerous areas, The Desert Rats of Tobruk.

[Grizzled Ian]

You can't drive far in northern France and Belgium without spotting another CWGC cemetery, from east of Amiens and fanning north and south throughout the British sector. It requires steely determination to resist stopping at every one, just to say "G'day" to any Aussies who might be resting there.

There is also a memorial to each of the five Australian divisions, located from Polygon Wood in Belgium to Pozieres, and the bronze map at each one shows all five, and other sites of special significance to Australia, including the main Australian memorial just north of Villers-Bretonneux. I have also been to a CWGC cemetery west of Caen to visit My Good Lady's uncle, aircrew shot down on the night of 5-6 June 1944.

But you will find memorials of significance to Canada and Newfoundland when you make your visit, all lovingly tended, peaceful, restful places....

[creagdhubh]

The Dutch certainly don't forget and they teach their young to respect and honour all those who have come before in defence of their freedom. Lest we forget.