NR - 10.034 - May 5, 2010
WAGENINGEN, the NETHERLANDS – The Government of Canada is proud to have a Canadian Forces (CF) contingent participate in a parade as part of a ceremony of remembrance in the town of Wageningen, Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay said Monday. The CF contingent is part of a Government of Canada delegation, led by Veterans Affairs Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn, to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands.
“I am proud to have a Canadian Forces contingent participating in activities to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands,” said Minister MacKay. “By remembering and celebrating this important event in history, we recognize the tradition of freedom Canadians in the Second World War fought to preserve – a tradition that we maintain today.”
The city of Wageningen holds special significance in the history of the Second World War as it was the site where the terms of surrender between Allied and Axis Forces were negotiated. It was 65 years ago today, at the Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen, that the commander of the 1st Canadian Corps, General Charles Foulkes, accepted the terms of surrender from the commander of German forces in the Netherlands.
The 52-person CF contingent is comprised of individuals from across the country, and is in the Netherlands in support of commemorative activities organized by VAC. The contingent has participated in memorial events at Groesbeek and Holten Canadian War Cemeteries. They will participate in a ceremony at Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery on May 6, as well as a final parade in Apeldoorn on May 9.
During the Second World War, over 1 million Canadians served at home and abroad with the Canadian Army, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Over 40,000 died making the supreme sacrifice.
- 30 -
Note to Editors / News Directors:
For more information on the Liberation of the Netherlands, please visit the Veterans Affairs Canada Web
site at www.vac-acc.gc.ca.
For more information on CF participation in the 65th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands,
please contact the Media Liaison Office at 1-866-377-0811 / 613-996-2353.
