COCHRANE— Honouring the legacy of those who served in the Canadian military, Remembrance Day can serve as an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices of veterans in securing the freedoms of Canada and other countries.
Veteran Henry Veldhuis, 85, lived in the Netherlands during the Second World War. His town of about 8,000 people was occupied by German forces until they were liberated by Canadian and British forces on May 5, 1945.
“I was nine-years-old when the Second World War finished … They came rolling in with their tanks into our towns and the Germans headed North home,” Veldhuis said. “I remember a lot of that— Especially the last season.”
The Germans set up shop in a school down the street and Veldhuis and his younger brother used to play outside.
The liberation was not a scary experience, he said, because he had grown up watching planes fighting above him in the sky and the German soldiers who occupied the town had been good to the children.
“They were all young guys that didn’t really want to be there,” Veldhuis said. “We never had any problems that way.”
When the war was over Veldhuis, who was 17 at the time, his parents and siblings moved to Canada.
There was a time when he did not want to think back to the days of the Second World War— He did not want to talk about, he said, because he was more interested in looking to the future and the better days the family found when they moved to Canada.
“For quite a while I didn’t want to talk about or think about the war days,” Veldhuis said. “I was nine-years-old I was old enough that some of the stuff I just can’t forget.”
He feels very fortunate to be living in a country like Canada, he said, adding that at one time his father had intentions of moving to South Africa.
“It was great going to another country,” Veldhuis said. “Although, life in Holland wasn’t that bad by then— I’m glad I’m here.”
The experience of growing up during the Second World War inspired Veldhuis to enlist in the Canadian army after his family immigrated to the country.
“I felt that I owed them something,” Veldhuis said. “That was in my mind very strongly.”
He served in the Canadian army from 1957-1961 as a regular soldier serving in Canada. He noted he never went overseas.
Veldhuis has lived in Cochrane since 1965 and has been a member of the Cochrane Legion just as long.
He has been attending Remembrance Days for as long as he can remember, even before joining the Legion.
Last year Veldhuis laid a wreath at the Cochrane cenotaph for the unknown soldier, honouring the services of the service members lost in war and the memories of soldiers killed in wars.
The experience of honouring those lost in war is powerful, he said, because it ripples out across generations.
“A lot of people had a relative a grandfather, an uncle or whatever that died because of the war or got injured,” Veldhuis said.
Veteran John Ferguson who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force for five years said He wants to see people celebrate Remembrance Day as they have every year. But, ne noted, this has been made difficult due to COVID-19 public health measures.
“Unfortunately this year we can’t do that,” Ferguson said. “I think it’s going to be hard for a lot of people."
Honouring Remebrance Day will be different in 2020, he said, but the community can still rally to support veterans in the community,
Ferguson will be a member of this year's colour party during the Remebrance Day ceremony— Carrying flags at the ceremony on Wednesday (Nov. 11) at the Cochrane Cenotaph.
Nov. 11 is an important date and need to there is an obligation to keep honouring Remembrance Day to ensure youth in the community never forget the sacrifices of veterans.
People can lose sight of Canada’s military history, especially those who are younger, he said, because they have never been exposed to or lived through the horrors of war.
Remembrance Day serves as a learning opportunity where stories can be imparted to new generations to ensure the military legacy of Canada is honoured and upheld.
During Remembrance Day, Ferguson said, he thinks about how proud he is to be a part of Canada’s rich military history and honoured to help and support the continuation of that legacy.
This year especially Legion’s need support, he said, and Remembrance Day is the perfect opportunity to support a bedrock organization in the Cochrane community.
Community support is more important than ever, he said, to ensure the Legion will be able to continue operating and providing essential services for veterans and their families.
“They need to know what the legacy of our forces is and the purpose of the Legion,” Ferguson said. “Everybody in this country should be thankful for the veterans who are responsible for giving us the free life that we have today. We can’t ever forget that.”
