Queen Beatrix and Princess Margriet were in attendance. It is interesting to remember that the Dutch Royal family stayed in Ottawa during World War II, and that Princess Margriet was born In an Ottawa hospital room that was temporarily proclaimed to be part of the Netherlands. Grandma's expert photography caught a picture of the Queen as she mingled with some of the veterans.
Dinner on the way back was a fabulous Indonesian buffet, in the Royal Military Home Bronbeek, a former palace.
Tuesday, May 4th, was the National Memorial Day in the Netherlands. We were up bright and early and headed to the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. One will never forget the way the Dutch people had their homes and properties decorated with Canadian and The Netherlands flags.
Princess Margriet was here as well, and the memorial service included a fly over by 3 World War II vintage fighter planes, and a helicopter dropping poppies. The Holten school children are very active at this cemetery, placing flowers on all the graves during the memorial service. They also place 24 hour lighted candles on every grave each Christmas.
After the service, as I was wandering through the cemetery looking at graves, I got quite a shock to run smack in a couple of my neighbours from home. Tanya's grade one teacher, Hilda Gilles, and the older kids former piano teacher, Ruth Ganong. Small world, huh. I was so surprised, I forgot to take their picture.
On the way home, we stopped at the town of Gorssel, near the place where the Canadians crossed the River Ijssel. This was a very important turning point in the war. The OSA pipe band that we travelled most everywhere with, did a short parade through town to the monument.
Then back to Fia and Jaap's for a wonderful supper.
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