Remembrance of the dead WWII. - today 4th of May

[Romy Overdorp]

Hey guys,

I don't know if this is allowed here but I just wanted to point out that today here in the Netherlands we remember all the brave people who died during the second World War. This is still very important and therefore we all keep 2 minutes of silence at 20:00 Amsterdam time. I don't say that all of you should do that too, but I didn't want this event to pass by unnoticed.

Thank you for reading this post and respecting this day.

 

[Spitfire]

Denmark too - was liberated on the 5th of May 1945.
BBC brought the news at the evening 4th of May - and ever since that day in 1945 people has put candles in the windows, as a tribute to that day and to the many, many people - both danes and allied soldiers - who sacrificed their lives in order that we could be free.
Being born in 1945 - I have done it every 4th of may ever since.
And although a lot of the younger generations forget to and don't even know what this date means, I will also do it tonight.

 

[scotrace]

Hey guys,

I don't know if this is allowed here ...

...Thank you for reading this post and respecting this day.

Thank YOU for posting it. It is most certainly allowed here.

 

[Romy Overdorp]

Thank you so much.
I always call my grandparents to make sure they are OK, they get very emotional during this event.
The radio broadcasts old songs and people can call and tell their stories, some are beautiful and others are just devastating. The youngsters here are thought at school about this day, so everybody pays attention to the past.
If you disturb the 2 minutes of silence you get arrested, like a man did last year he's still in jail.
Even people who are in the car, park on the side of the road and wait.
I didn't know it is remembered in Denmark too on the same day. Thank you for that info, learning every day!

 

[Spitfire]

In my family this little story always comes up the 4th of may:
It was my grandmothers birthday and the family was also together on that evening in 1945 although my father (her son) probably had other things on his mind those days. He was in the resistance and knew that it all had to end - and maybe with a lot of fighting and bloodshed if the germans did not surrender peacefully.
The family had just finished the birthdaydinner and sat down with the coffee (or what you should call it). Someone opende the radio to listen to the news from BBC at 8:30 as the used to do....and then they heard the news, that the germans in the Netherlands, northwest Germany AND DENMARK had surrendered!!!
My father ran out the door right away, leaving my pregnant mother behind. He had to get to a rallying point as fast as possible to pick up his weapons and radio-communication set. After he had left - and everybody else was out in the streets celebrating - my grandmother said the later so famous words:
"I think Montgomery could have chosen another day - now my birthdayparty is all ruined!"

 

[MissMittens]

"I think Montgomery could have chosen another day - now my birthdayparty is all ruined!"

Too funny!! England still uses the 11th hour of the 11th day and the 11th month for remembrance, with the remembrance parades being on the closest Sunday. The US still uses the last weekend in May for Memorial Day celebrations, but there's no national remembrance really, it's just an excuse to shop sales, and the first day of the boating season. Nothing like what happens every year at the Cenotaph........

 

[Romy Overdorp]

I was watching the remembrance on the telly and I heard someone talking during the silence ....
How hard can it be to shut yer yap for two whole minutes? I was really angry about it, especially if you stand on the scene where people of the resistance were brutally slaughtered.
Called grandpa and he was ok. He was angry because they never mention Hannie Schaft, a very important woman who fought for our freedom.

 

[Romy Overdorp]

:cheer2:Today we celebrate our freedom!!
Hurraaaaaay!

 

[Kitty_Sheridan]

Hi Romy,

thanks for posting-my friend Jo always reminds us of this on facebook and I always think when I'm in the Netherlands and I drive through Hilversum and there's the bit art deco hotel-of the Canadians and the West Yorkshires liberating the area.

Hannie was incredibly brave...I wore my Oranje Boven pin today that I bought in Naarden last year!

Kate

 

[LocktownDog]

It was remembered by those of us with Dutch heritage, as will Celebration Day.