On May 5, 2010, The Netherlands celebrated Liberation Day.  It’s their way of commemorating the end of World War II in 1945, as being liberated from the German occupation and oppression. This year is the 65th year and it’s a legal national holiday (it’s once every 5 years when it’s a legal national holiday).

Since 1948 the Liberation’s Flame burns continuously in Waginengen. May 4 is celebrated as Memorial Day, remembering and honoring all the victims of World War II. On the midnight of May 4-May 5, the Liberation’s Flame would be lighted at ‘Hotel de Wereld’. This ceremony marks the transition from commemoration to celebration. Then marathon runners from all provinces bring this “running fire” through torches to all the provinces and cities in the whole Netherlands. The fire came originally from Bayeux in France where it burn continuously in honor of the soldiers who landed on D-day to liberate Europe.

Liberation Day is yearly celebrated with 13 festivals in all the Dutch provinces and Amsterdam. This year the start of the festivals began in city of Roermond in Limburg, the province in the southern part of The Netherlands.  The celebration began with the lighting of the Liberation’s Fire by the Prime Minister J.P. Balkenende. Then the festivals began simultaneously in all provinces. This year there were more than 40 stages, where 250 bands and artists performed celebrating freedom. Every major city in the country has its own way of celebration and festivities or activities.

One of the special celebrations was held in the American Cemetery in Margaten, a small town in south Limburg. In this cemetery there are more than 8,300 American soldiers burried who died in World War II. Most of these graves are adopted by the local citizens, remembering and honoring these fallen soldiers. It was a solemn ceremony attended by dignitaries and private persons. It started with the parade of AIS Colors carried by the ROTC students of the AFNORTH International High School, in Brunssum, the Netherlands.  AIS is jointly operated by Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. The program presented by Mr. Tom Budzyna (Director of Public Affairs, USAG in Schinnen) started with Mr. Mike Yasenchak, the superintendant of the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, singing a cappella the national anthems of The Netherlands, Belgium, France and the United States in the native languages.

The dignitaries laid wreaths together with the Stichting Ultraloop Stein a group of marathon runners from Stein, as organized by Mr. Han Frenken. They made a remarkable marathon in honor of those soldiers who landed on D-day at Utah Beach in Normandy, France. The relay teams gave respect by running 680 km in two groups with 18 runners. They started in Utah Beach on May 2 getting the Liberation’s flame and arrived at Margraten on May 5. The marathon runners made a round of honor at the cemetery together with the U.S.  Army soldiers from USAG Schinnen  (U.S. Army Garrison in Schinnen, the only U.S. Army Garrison in the Netherlands), under  the command of U.S.Army Major Price.

The ceremony ended with the handing of the Liberation’s flame torch to the marathon runners. The crowd applauded and cheered the runners as they left the cemetery to finish the last 25 km from Margraten to Stein. The citizens of Stein of course had their own celebration when the runners arrived there.

The National celebration ended with a concert in the capital city. There’s a floating stage on the Amstel River which is built every year by the Royal Army. The May 5 concert is an annual tradition. Her majesty, Queen Beatrix was among the spectators together with high dignitaries and thousands of people along the quay. The Limburg’s Symphony Orchestra under the conductor Ed Spanjard had beautiful renditions.  Various artists like the Dutch soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek, musical star Freek Bartels (known as Joseph), cabaret singer Marjon Lambrinks and singer Edsilia Rombley added spectacle performances to this special concert.

The dignitaries present in US Cemetery in Margraten were: Colonel Mike Peterson for the Ambassador of the U.S.A. and as US representative; Mayor Bronckers for the town of Margraten; LTC St. Andre Boris, Attaché Mil. De France;  Major Marius Price, commander of USAG Schinnen; Mr. Leo Noy and family, for the province of Limburg, SP party member; Mrs. Muijs, President of the VVD Fraction in Limburg; Mr. J. Goldfarm Mr. Benoit Duchesne, Director of Sportive de Waremme; Mr. Van Duijn and son Mr.  & Mrs. Vallaveille,  Museum Director Utah Beach; Mr. Destin, Mayor of Honfleur; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Budzyna, Director of Public Relations USAG Schinnen; Mr. Jos Hendrix and Mrs. Gerda Basin representing DaCapo College; Mr. Michael Yasenchak, Superintendent of the US Cemetery and Memorial Mr. W. Hoenen form the Ministry of Justice.

My special thanks to:  Mr. Tom Budzyna and Mr. Leo Noy

Useful links: www.4en5mei.nl www.usagschinnen.eur.army.mil