National Day of Remembrance

In Holland, May 4th each year is observed as a national day of remembrance in recognition of the sacrifices by allied troops when Holland was liberated. The next day, May 5, is celebrated as liberation day.

Today, we visited the Canadian War Cemetery at Holterberg. The cemetary was designed and built by the Dutch government, and is maintained with obvious respect and loving care. A total of 1,355 Canadian soldiers are buried here. It is one of the smallest of the war cemetaries.






















We laid flowers and said a prayer at two graves.

The first in commemoration of the soldiers who served in Floyd Buchanan's regiment. The second at the grave of an unkown soldier - the marker bearing the inscription, "Known to God" - to commemorate all the Canadian soldiers who sacrified their lives in the effort to liberate Holland and end the Nazi occupation and oppression.










Our visit here was a very moving experience. We are grateful to Hero and Marty for bringing us here to see the cemetary and to be able to spend some time at this important place.