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HOLLAND LIBERATION 2005
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| The Program provided by our Dutch friends. |
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| Our committee was WELCOME AGAIN VETERANS |
| Dining with our hostess Frieda Hoffman and family |
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| Your editor, Roy, left and Doug Dunlop enjoying lunch |
| Roy Parrett and Doug Dunlop enjoying Dutch repast. |
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| Good food and good company every day! |
| Every house and every street flew the flags |
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| Many bore signs "WELCOME CANADIANS!" |
In June 2005, along with 1,900 other Canadian Veterans,their helpers, personell of the Canadian Forces, Canadian bands, and
a platoon of the RCMP, invited by the WELCOME AGAIN VETERANS committee, attended the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of
Holland by the Canadian Army. When I arrived in Amsterdam an airline employee greeted me and summoned one of the W.A.V. guides
who got me a car, and had me delivered to a host family in Holten, Teun and Frieda Holman. Here I met also Doug Dunlop of
Peterborough, Ontario, also a guest of the Holmans. Our host looked after us very well, and guided us everywhere and saw that
we got to the 200 busses which took veterans to the various activities, daily. The W.A.V. committe provided "Garry"
van't Holt, as guide, who travelled with us dailynto the events and kept us from getting lost, each time 6,000 of us were
moving around at the same time. Garry carried a telescopic "WELCOME AGAIN VETERANS- HOLTEN" sign which helped no
end!
| Our host family in Holten |
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| Teun and Frieda Hofman, a friend, and Roy Parrett. |
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Many of the 1900 Canadian veterans, and their helpers, bands, members of the Canadian Forces, and a platoon of scarlet- coated
Mounties had arrived the previous day, but I arrived Royal Dutch Airlines from Seattle- the only vet on board. But, the friendly
Dutch were expecting me. I had my passport ready, but he said, with a smile, "You didn't need a passport the last time
you came, and you don't need one now." And a KLM official was waiting for me as I stepped off of the plane, to call up
a "Welcome Again Veterans" guide for me.
Every building, every house and every street was decorated with bunting, Canadian flags and banners saying :"WELCOME
AGAIN VETERANS".
Our host family, Teun and Frieda Hofman and daughter Dian, and young son Thorsen, are in Holten, not far from Nijmegen, and
they billeted your host, Roy Parrett and Doug Dunlop. Every day there was a program by our committee- WELCOME AGAIN VETERANS.
This photo of the hospitality was the normal during out visit- pleanty of good food, drink and friendly chat. Our gracious
host, Teun is seated on our left.
| Doug Dunlop , Roy Parrett and our host Teun Hofman |
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| Every evening we dined out with the W.A.V. Committee. |
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