Text: Han Verbeem. Photos: municipality of Woensdrecht
WOENSDRECHT / BRABANTSE WAL – On the Brabantse Wal, 75 years of liberation are commemorated this weekend. There were wreath layings and a military parade marched through the municipality of Woensdrecht Saturday morning. It was an impressive parade in which many volunteers participated. A short ceremony was held at all war memorials, including a more extensive one in Woensdrecht. In the afternoon there was also a parade in Bergen-Op-Zoom, in which the mayor and aldermen of Woensdrecht were present, followed by a tattoo in the evening. Saturday was a ceremony at the British war cemetery, Sunday there is a memorial at the Canadian war cemetery. H.R.H. Princess Margriet will be present.
In the cores of the municipality of Woensdrecht, the commemoration of 75 years of liberation, on 27 October 1944, was considered in various ways, and this was reflected in the participation in the defense. In Putte, after the memorial at the war monument, there was music on the Jordaensplein by Fanafare De Volharding and the Antwerp & District Pipe Band. From the Ouwe Raedthuysplein in Hoogerheide, there were veterans, a detachment from Woensdrecht air base and the Seaforth Highlanders of Holland in front of the military vehicles. The wreath was become by the fire department.
Toast for freedom
At the Jumbo in Hoogerheide, residents were able to toast around 75 years of freedom around noon, together with the village platform. Furthermore, the war museum on the Putseweg in Ossendrecht was open all day. Visitors could park their cars at the former Wilhelminakazene and were brought to the museum with a historic army vehicle. Saturday evening around 7 a.m. was a memorial service in the church of Hoogerheide.
Memorial activities were also held in the center of Bergen-Op-Zoom. See also these articles:
(Video) Ultra-modern defense equipment was also on display on Saturday afternoon. Such as this fire fighting vehicle from the Air Force in Woensdrecht, which rode in the parade in the inner city of Bergen-op-Zoom.