“The families have not forgotten.”: PG holds event for Liberation of the Netherlands

A flag raising ceremony at City Hall was held today (Monday) to mark the 80th anniversary of Dutch Liberation Day.

It was on May 5th, 1945, that Canadian First Army commander, General Charles Foulkes, accepted the surrender of all German troops in the country at the end of the second world war.

While not of direct Dutch heritage, Prince George City Councillor Susan Scott has a personal connection to this.

“My parents both served in the Canadian armed forces and my mother was in fact on duty on Parliament Hill when Queen Juliana and her family arrived for shelter. We have never forgotten.”

Scott added with all of the trade unrest going on with the United States, commemorating an anniversary like this can teach us a valuable lesson.

“We have learned over this past year, that our closest allies may not be as close as we think. So, we reach back as we look forward and I appreciate that a lot.”

Retired politician Shirley Bond who was representing Prince George’s Dutch Community stated this day is of huge importance for the Dutch community here.

“People forget (during World War II) that there was literally no food. My mother used to tell me the story of eating tulip-bowled soup and how they survived was with whatever they could find – Liberation Day was incredibly important and that charge was led mostly by Canadian soldiers.”

“The families have not forgotten and I have not forgotten. One of the things my mother taught us was to be grateful for the charge that was led by Canadian soldiers. There is a very proud Dutch community here in Prince George.”

A tulip ceremony will be at Veterans Plaza on May 17th.