Travel Tips

We had to wait a long time, but at last the veterans did turn up.

The first vehicle had just one veteran on board. I suppose this was the 'commander', while escorted by the Mounties.

But I was so busy taking pictures, waving and thanking the veterans, I didn't see his name or rank.

The first veterans of a group of about 200, who were marching the whole route from the beginning to the end.

They were between 80 and 90 years old.

This veteran did not want to walk. He found one of the motorbikes, which were in the parade and did drive it by himself.

And he enjoyed it very much, as you can see.

About 300 hundred vehicles varying from motorbikes, through jeeps and red cross vehicles, till heavy armoured cars were available to transport the veterans who could not or did not want to walk in the parade (and rain).

And lots of them did choose these way of transport. And enjoyed the crowds along the roads.

Again veterans on one of the vehicles from World War II.

Much of them are owned by Dutch people and they do have a lot of opportunities to show their old vehicles during these days.

As said there were still lots of veterans marching.

The oldest of them was 96 year old: named Fred Kidd. He has been many times in Apeldoorn.

My wife with two 'young' soldiers from Canada. They also were marching the route of the parade.

They got, as all the veterans, lots of flowers and had to receive thousands of "thank you very much" from older and young(er) Dutch people.

The last of the 15 music bands was the Burlington Teen Tour Band from Burlington Canada. They closed the parade after almost three hours.

The cities of Burlington and Apeldoorn are twinned and is was nice to see they played an important role in a couple of ceremonies during the last week in occasion of the liberation ceremonies in Apeldoorn.

Among the crowd along the route were also many many younger people from Apeldoorn and other Dutch cities. So I'm confinced the strong bond between Canada and the Netherlands will last for ever.

We are looking back on an impressive parade and most of all we are happy the veterans did enjoy it very much.

I just want to finish with a quote I did read one of these days:
"If you love your freedom, thank a veteran !!"