Remember

In the Netherlands May 4th and May 5th are special days . Today we remember those who died in World War two. Tomorrow, May 5th, we celebrate the liberation.

My grandma told me a lot about the war. How her family didn’t have food, how she lost her best (Jewish) friend, how my grandfather fought in the war, that he became a war prisoner and how he escaped.

Although she described it very vividly, I never could really imagine how it must haven been like. Ofcourse in school I learned about both World Wars. I learned about the Germans, the Jews, and the camps. I learned that the US, English and Canadians rescued Europe out of Nazi claws. But it was not school that made me realize that we (Europeans) should be very grateful to the English, Canadians and Americans, but movies like Saving Private Ryan and the TV series Band of Brothers. At school the liberation part is covered only basically. Like the Allies just walked in, slapped the Germans around and went home. Just like that.

Never did school made me see, really see, how many lives the war really cost. May 4th and 5th were just normal days for me. A minute of silence at 8 o’clock and then back to my TV series.

Until last Friday. We accidentally drove by the American Cemetery and Memorial in Limburg. We stopped, turned and went to see it. The moment we stepped out of the car, and walked to the memorial & cemetery I was overwhelmed by the peace and silence that was there. The memorial sight was amazing. We walked passed the memorial to the cemetery. Every step we took, the names on the crosses got more visible. And I stood there, feeling this immense gratitude for those who died to rescue us. Never before had I shed one tear over that war (or a war). But being on that cemetery with over 8000 crosses. It just dawned on me.

So yes, this year I will remember. And be grateful to the men & women who gave their lives and made it possible to live the way we live now, here in Europe.