From: Ron van Rijt
To: Don Stibitz
cc: Don Lavender; Ernie Herr, Ran Fleig; John Schaffner;
Wally Burr; Ken Vbob; Elmer Potsmann; VINWALKS@aol.com; Carlheintz@juno.com;
Al Boe; Don Weed; Mahlon Denter;
Thank You Liberators
Dear Liberators
Today was "Dodenherdenking" in Holland, the day that the
Dutch remember all the victims of WWII.
Tomorrow is Liberation Day, 63 years ago the war ended
in my country. - time to celebrate !!!
I just wanted to thank you Veterans for coming over more
than 6 decades ago and risking your life for our freedom. - Thank you so much.
Please forgive me that I won't make to go to Margraten
Cemetery tomorrow; - my sister doesn't have time to take care for my dog
tomorrow and I can't leave Spike alone for several hours because he will eat
my furniture.
I promise you that I will be there on Memorial Day.
Greetings
from Holland; Ron
Update: 5/11/2020
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 9:56 AM
Subject: 400 Veterans
Hi Vets
I saw the Liberation Day celebrations in the Dutch city of
Apeldoorn on television.
400 Canadian Veterans attended this year; - as you know,
only the southern part of Holland was liberated by the US Army, the north was
liberated by the British and Canadians.
It's a tradition that our Liberators are coming over every
5 years, to take part in the celebrations and parade.
I don't know how many of them could come over to Apeldoorn 5
years ago but I'm afraid that this could be the last time that we could
welcome our Liberators. - ofcourse the celebrations will continue with the
post-war generation in many Dutch cities and towns but somehow it won't be the
same anymore without you old Vets.
I wish I could turn back the clock 15 years, when the Big
Red One came over to our meeting at Merode with 3 buses full of Veterans; - a
General from the modern day US Army arrived with his helicopter and we had 200
German Vets waiting for them. ...... it was lotsa work but those were the days
!!!!