May 21

Written by: ngreditor
5/21/2008 9:46 AM 

Memorial Day in Holland

Marlin Cederlind

Flags float in the breeze over Hope Cemetery, Newman Grove, on Memorial Day 2007.

On Memorial Day last year (2007), my wife and I had the unique opportunity to visit and observe the annual ceremony at the American World War II military cemetery near the village of Margraten in the southern tip of Holland (Netherlands).

Every year on Memorial Day, people from all over Holland come to show their respects to the over 8,300 soldiers, most of which are American, interned in this cemetery. This figure also represents only 43% of those originally buried here. Hundreds of bicycles and other modes of transportation were used by the many visitors in attendance. I asked a couple of U.S. military personnel in attendance if this occasion occurred every year and they assured me it did.

The avenue of flags at Hope Cemetery, Memorial Day 2007.

After 64 years, the residents of Holland are still very thankful for the soldiers who gave their lives to liberate their country. I would venture to say that of those in attendance on Memorial Day, 2007, few were even born at that time. School children are even assigned specific graves to decorate.

It was very touching to see this well kept cemetery with the rows and rows of crosses and stars of David. It was also not difficult to find numerous graves of soldiers from Nebraska who gave their life back in 1944.

Again, this Memorial Day, let us remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country.