Imbi's Willow

MAY 5 - FREEDOM DAY

May 4: remembrance day
May 5: freedom day.

I remember
And I've learned from the past
that war is no solution.
And I stand up for freedom
for each and every citizen of my country
and of the world.

In The Netherlands we have a logical but unique combination of days: may 4 and 5: remembrance day and freedom day.

On June 6, 1944 in Normandy a huge military operation started to free europe. A huge number of troops landed. The soldiers came from England, Canada, Australia, America, Poland, The Netherlands and many more european countries.
Young men who had been able to flee to England had joined the forces there to take part in liberating Europe.

During 2004 and 2005 sixty years of freedom were commemorated and celebrated throughout Europe. Many veterans came back to celebrate with us.

Two years ago, in September 2004 it was exactly sixty years ago that the allied forces began their fight against the German occupiers in The Netherlands.
They were joined by the resistance.
Parts of the south were freed, but it took longer to free the complete country.
So many Dutch people suffered from hunger during the winter and some cities sufferent all the problems of being a frontline city. (Including the town where I live.)

On May 5, 1945 the german army surrendered and our country was considered free.
It was unknown at the time that at Texel a group of Georgian soldiers were fighting the german army.
This battle ended two weeks later.

May the 5th is a day of celebrations of freedom all over the country.

The day starts traditionally with the ignition of the "Fires of Freedom".

Then the celebrations start.

There is something to do for each agegroup.
Children engage in competitions who have the nicest decorated bike, for instance.
For young people, for instance, music festivals are held.
There are also parades.
We love to celebrate with the veterans, to thank them for our freedom.
Each year many visit our country just for may 4 and 5.
Untill this year a special parade was held at Wageningen, where Prince Bernard was from 1988 - 2004 the Parade Inspector and took the salute.
He passed away in December 2004.

Last year Crown-Prince Willem-Alexander, following the wishes of his grandfather, took the salute in Wageningen at the last march-past of veterans, former resistance fighters and troops during the commemoration of the liberation.
The National Committee Commemoration Capitulations 1945 Wageningen organized the event.

It was said that this would be the very last time that the march-past was held in Wageningen. But many Dutch were sure that an event like this would take place this year too. And they've been right.
Even though we want to respect the wishes of Prince Bernard.
So it won't be a veterans march-past, but a huge event, with the theme: Freedom can only made together.

At the place where the people gather for the march the historical vehicles will be on display, and there will be many performances.
For instance the Sgt. Wilson’s Army Show. It's a show by 3 Army Lady’s under command of Sgt. Wilson’s with music of Glenn Miller, The Andrew Sisters, Frankie Lane, Doris Day, Cole Peter and Vera Lynn.
A theatre group will enact Living History, and "exercitie peloton ’48" will perform.
There will be lots of information about musea, organisations for a better world. Including Amnesty International, Terres des Hommes and WarChild.

After that the freedomparade, "Vrijheidsdefilé" will start.
It'll take the place of the march-past.
Over 2.000 people, including 1.200 veterans, schoolchildren, students, theatre groups will take part, as will many musicbands.
Part of the parade are also the historical vehicles. The veterans who can't walk can take part in a fitted setting, and the vehicles also give a good account of historical developments.
But not only the grounds of Wageningen will celebrate.

Each of the twelve provinces organise a Liberation Festival.
And many towns

The day ends with a huge open air concert on the canals of Amsterdam in presence of the Queen.
Traditionally she'll leave in a boat, while thousands of people both on land and on the water sing "We'll meet again", which was sung in the past by Vera Lynn.

Following freedom day there are some more events on the days after, because veterans appreciate visiting the graves of their warfriends.
Some of them will stay with the families they have stayed in contact with all these years.

Freedom in The Netherlands is a kind of freedom that grants freedom of every aspect of life, without invading the freedom of others.
That means we have freedom of speech, religion, movement, everything.

The last years though, we have experienced changes we don't all agree with.

Pressured by international tendencies some matters are changed.
Like our freedom of movement through the world.
It's so strange to have to tell what we consider private details, ranging from food preference to sexual orientation, when we travel to some countries.

And like almost all other countries we had to deal with influences that try to turn a peaceful society into one where people distrust each other and the focus of attention is more on the negative than on the positive.

Unwise people who want to change the world by use of disrespect and violating the laws of other religions created discontent and troubles between religious groups in society.
Something that was unheard of in The Netherlands.
And ever more: foreigners who have even never been to our country, trying to get themselves in the spot of the media by telling tales about euthanasia, and many other subjects.
It's unbelievable that people from other countries are telling our ministers how to restrict the freedom of speech and religion.

The last years we all had to take the consequences of the trend in the world towards more control.
All people from age 14 on have to carry a passport or other identitycard with us all the time.
Most of us hate it.
It reminds the elderly of the second world war, where our country suffered very badly under the germans.
We wouldn't be Dutch if we wouldn't take this as one more aspect of life to inspire us to be grateful for freedom.

We know there is a country in the world where they say their freedom is best.
OK, it's best in their country.
But when I see how people are treated who dare to say what they think, I'm not so sure.

I'm 50 now and have heard so many accounts of the war.
I've learned that there's one very important aspect that makes people really free.

Not the freedom to speak freely,
but the freedom to speak with respect
for all who live on earth.
The freedom
that enables a person
to think whatever comes to mind,
even when the country is oppressed.
It's the freedom to dream of peace
for all people on earth.

Because without thinking that way
a person never has experienced
true freedom in life.