The same as in the Netherlands we in Canada remember and celebrates “Bevrijdingsdag” (Liberation Day). We planted “75th Anniversary Liberation Tulips” in several towns and municipalities where we live on Vancouver Island to thank all those who fought and sacrificed to give us the life we have today. Of the many we remember and thank there are those whose efforts touched our family personally:

Lawrence Arthur Rudolf, (Died February 27, 1945 at the age of 21)
Lawrence was a Gunner – 5 Anti-Tank Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery, Lawrence is now buried at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in the Netherlands along with over one thousand other Canadians. The year of his death Lawrence’s Nephew in Canada was born and given his name. Years later Lawrence’s Nephew married the first member of our family born in Canada

Fred Cook (February 10, 1926 – June 18, 2015)
Fred became a member of the Regina Rifles Regiment in 1942. He served in the Second World War and fought to liberate the Netherlands including Breskens. Many years later Fred’s Son married the second member of our family born in Canada. Fred also served in the Korean War and 25 years in the Royal Canadian Navy.

Robert “Bob” Burrows (September 22, 1923 – May 18, 2010)
Bob left Canada in 1943 for Britain and then to the Bay of Naples. He was a Forward Observation Officer Signaler with 2nd Field Regiment 10th Battery. After Italy he served in France and Belgium and then participated in the liberation of the Netherlands in Apeldoorn and Deventer. After the war Bob returned to Canada where he and his war bride raised a large family, who were and are prominent in the community through Sports and/or Labour Relations.

Pieter Adriaan de Munck (December 26, 1902 – July 03, 1942)
Pieter de Munck was my Grandmother’s Brother. He was a member of the Dutch Resistance and was killed at the Neuengamme Concentration Camp in Germany. There is a Memorial to Pieter and other Dutch people who died at Neuengamme in the Ohlsdorf Cemetery in Hamburg, Germany.