Groesbeek and Gratitude

Early the next morning, we had a quick breakfast in our hostel before leaving for Holland. We were going to Groesbeek, to see the Canadian Cemetery there, and the liberation museum, and to take place in the liberation day ‘Peace March’. The cemetery was very beautiful. It contained as well a large monument to the parachuters and pilots who took place in operation Market Garden (the liberation of Holland), and so, so many of the graves had small crosses and Canadian flags and poppy wreaths, as did the great Cross at the end. It was obviously a well visited place, though we didn’t realize precisely how much until later that evening.

Canadian War Cemetery of Groesbeek

We spent a an hour and a half at the small but wonderfully interactive Liberation museum. There was everything- sounds, smells, recreations, video, audio, anything a relatively small museum could want to make it a wholly engaging experience. There were children everywhere, and everyone was enthralled with something. Part of the museum was a semi-outdoor dome, with engraved memorials to all the military factions involved in operation Market Garden. The museum stresses that they are not a war museum. They are a liberation museum, and all their many memorials and exhibits are geared towards what life in Holland was like during the war, the impact and aftermath of the liberation, and what putting the pieces post-war back together was like culturally and socially. It was another wonderful tribute, and as we were to see later, it was only the beginning of Holland’s deep appreciation and continuing gratitude for Canada and it’s people. After a rest at the hotel, we went into town to have some supper, and then went to City Hall, where the Peace March in honour of liberation day was to begin. We were there early, but already there were people waiting. Many dignitaries were in attendance, including the mayor, and the Canadian Ambassador to Holland. At seven precisely, we began. The mayor et al, the uniformed military representatives, and other local heads lead the every growing line of people down the half hour walk from the centre of a now free, proud city… To the Canadian cemetery at Groesbeek. We walked silently, watching everyone around us. Children, elderly, families, couples. People on bikes followed the paths  beside the closed off highway. Children ran into the nearby fields and parks to gather flowers. Everyone was silent, walking together.

As we approached the cemetery, we could hear the piper outside in full kit, piping in the marchers as we headed towards the great cross at the end of the cemetery. We were here for the second time today, and this time it was filled with hundreds upon hundreds of people, standing grouped around the cross. There was a roped off area for the speakers and the choir. The canadian ambassador spoke as the M.C, and began by inviting everyone present to stand for the national anthem of Canada. They choir sang 'O Canada', and we joined noisily and enthusiastically in, and Dr. Lemelin sang in French. It was an off-key, multi-language, but appreciable moment, and we were all moved. The Mayor gave a speech, some children read poetry, a few more songs were sung, and for the second night in a row, we stood for the last post and two minutes of silence. The flowers were placed, and John and Calla brought up our tribute when they invited all those who wished to lay flowers to come up to the monument and do so. Lines of people carried wreaths, bouquets, and flowers. They then invited all the children present to come and place a candle, if they wished. To my surprise, there must have been hundreds of children. They nearly ran out of candles, and every one of them, who had apparently been so patient and quiet during this solemn ceremony, ran up enthusiastically, and stood in line to receive a candle and place it at the monument. Parents walked their toddlers up. Groups of 9 and 10 year olds walked up clumped arm in arm, each filing past the cross. It was one of the most touching things I’ve ever witnessed. The last song, the national anthem of Holland, was sang, and they released a pen-full of pigeons to symbolize freedom. The pigeons quite stole the show, really. They did a beautiful curving loop over all our heads, and continued doing so over the cemetery in wider and wider arcs. I know I’m getting repetitive, but it was just beautiful. 

Afterwards, we lingered long enough and made our way up front so that Dr. Lemelin was able to introduce himself to the Ambassador, and tell her about our trip. She came and met all of us, and told us about her experiences living among the Dutch, and about the various ceremonies going on all over Holland for liberation day. They were all individually organized by the towns and cities, and how much ordinary citizens involved themselves was something she loved seeing every year. We had all thought the ceremony was amazing, and more than a few of us had shed a tear. I think it was one of the highest points in all our lives of feeling so much pride and thanks in being Canadian. 

Thank you, Belgium and Holland, for the two beautiful nights, and the two beautiful ceremonies. We are truly grateful to have been present and take part.