There were not as many as in the past, but the Canadian veterans who returned to the Netherlands this year seemed to be as wildly welcomed as they were 65 years ago. Back then, in 1945, the Dutch people were starving. They had been living under increasingly harsh German occupation for five years and had seen their neighbours rounded up and taken off to uncertain fates. That all ended when Canadian forces liberated the country at a cost of more than 7,600 fallen soldiers
and countless others wounded.

Still, it is amazing to see how the gratitude continues, not just from those who lived through that terrible period, but also from a new generation that has been raised to continue the bonds between Canadians and the people of the Netherlands.

That enduring bond was again evident this May when Princess Margriet of the Netherlands visited Legion House in Kanata, Ont. (page 69). She showed her respect for veterans and the largest organization representing them by planting a tree in front of the building. A plaque on a large stone adjacent to the tree reads in part: “2010 marks 65 years of special bonds between Canada and the Netherlands. This tree symbolizes the strength of the ties between our two countries. As it grows, it will serve to remind us of our shared history while we shape our common future.”

The Legion’s bond with the princess herself is very strong. She was born in Canada during the war while her mother, Princess Juliana and her sister, who is now Queen Beatrix, took refuge from the dangers of Europe. When Princess Margriet’s son Prince Floris was born, the Legion was asked to be his god­parents. In 2008, while he and his wife Aimée were guests at the 42nd dominion convention in Ottawa, he became an honorary dominion vice-president of the Legion.

As for our common future, Dutch and Canadian forces are standing shoulder to shoulder in Afghanistan, partners in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, trying to bring peace and security to a land that has known very little of it.

The Dutch have done more than a fine job in making sure their youth understand what Canada accomplished and sacrificed in war.  That much was evident with the enthusiasm witnessed this spring. It is an appreciation that many would like to see a bit more of in Canada.

A Valuable Program

The chance to hold 90-year-old original documents is a thrill for anyone interested in history. For young students such an opportunity can lead to an enduring love of history and better appreciation for the people who made it. That chance has been at the centre of the Lest We Forget project offered by Library and Archives Canada through its Learning Centre. With this project, students and teachers have been able to visit the LAC, and with the assistance of staff, pore over original service documents of military personnel they are researching (page 68). Students and teachers further afield from the nation’s capital can order copies of these historic documents, as well as view digitized archival material online.

Sources for the names of those who served and sacrificed their lives are easily found in most communities. Local cenotaphs, and the honour rolls often kept by churches are good starting points.

Anyone—not just students—interested in family or military history would be pleasantly surprised by what they can learn from a military personnel file. The students who have participated in the Lest We Forget project have certainly been impressed by the information gleaned from attestation papers, medical reports and notices of medals the individual received. In many cases, the information—especially that found on the casualty and medical forms—has prompted them to investigate further; establishing a clearer picture of the man or woman who served. “They see the human side of war; they come away thinking that this person really wasn’t that much different than them,” said project co-ordinator Debbie Jiang.

The Royal Canadian Legion has recognized the project’s value, and Legion branches have been supportive of school classes researching local veterans (Remembering The Fallen At Plaster Rock, May/June).

Earlier this year, reports circulated in the media that the Learning Centre’s funding was being cut and that staff were being reassigned. This concern became the object of questions asked in the House of Commons by Liberal Veterans Affairs critic Rob Oliphant. In answering, Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore assured the House of Commons in April that no changes would be made and that staff will continue working on the activities and projects at the Learning Centre.

Good news indeed because this is one project that deserves to be spared any cost-cutting, and much larger efforts should be made to promote its benefits to students and teachers across the land. There are no more Canadian First World War veterans to tell their stories and the Second World War veterans are getting fewer. Lest We Forget is one way in which a new generation can get a fresh glimpse into the experiences of those who served in times of war.

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