A formal recognition of the efforts of Canadian troops in the liberation of the Netherlands on May 5, 1945 was held on Fri., May 2 in South Dundas. Her Excellency Margriet Vonno, Dutch Ambassador to Canada spoke of the great appreciation the Dutch people have for the sacrifices made by Canadians in liberating her country from German occupation. Tinkess Photo

MORRISBURG – Fri., May 2 was a very special day in South Dundas with a formal recognition of the efforts of Canadian troops in the liberation of the Netherlands on May 5, 1945.

The recognition, in physical form consists of a plaque to be erected later this year in the Dutch Meadows subdivision, which is located on the west side of Morrisburg, the streets of which bear the names of villages liberated in the Netherlands.

Perhaps more significant, however, was the presence of the invited guests, who included the Dutch Ambassador to Canada, Her Excellency Margriet Vonno, the Defense attaché, Lieutenant Colonel Mark DeWitt, and members of the SDG Highlanders regiment, as well as many local dignitaries.

Eric Duncan, MP elect for Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry acted as Master of Ceremonies for the event, and provided a bit of background on how the plaque came to be.

“…a combination of vision by Mr. Bill Shearing (Retired Lieutenant Colonel) and others in the community that wanted to recognize a wonderful initiative by local developer in the municipality with the development of Dutch Meadows, what the name means, and the history behind that name, and its connection to our community.

“As many of you know, and as I look out into crowd, I see lots of Dutch families and names and connections that are here. There’s a strong connection between the Netherlands and Dundas County.

“We’re proud of our history, making those connections here today, I’m very grateful to everybody, for everyone who helped bring this together.”

Prior to Her Excellency Ambassador Vonno taking the podium, Lieutenant Colonel (retired) Shearing put into context the sacrifice made by Canadian troops as they fought to end the suffering of the Dutch people under German occupation.

“It was estimated that 250,000 Dutch lost their lives during the Second World War as a result of direct acts of war, or measured by occupation forces,” said Shearing.

“Over 7,600 Canadians died, and several times that many were wounded in the eight grueling months it took to liberate the Netherlands. Vast swaths of the country were strategically flooded by the German occupiers and later by the Allies, forcing Canadians to fight in waste deep water.”

It was, according to Lieutenant Colonel Shearing, a German-Canadian general who, on May 5, 1945, accepted the surrender of German troops in the Netherlands.

Her Excellency Ambassador Vonno, as she addressed those in attendance, said that she had a speech prepared, but felt it better that her message come straight from the heart, to convey how much the Dutch people understand and appreciate the sacrifice made by Canadian soldiers in restoring freedom to the Dutch people.

“We don’t want to forget one individual soldier. That’s why we have a project, Faces to Graves, and we know all the soldiers, we connect their families to family in the Netherlands, and there’s been enduring friendships that grow because now the great- great grandchild that come over and the Dutch that come over here.

“And this, I think, is the meaning of true freedom, that you’re free to choose your friends and that you don’t forget the ancestors and what they’ve done for you.”

The Dutch Meadows plaque was unveiled by Her Excellency Ambassador Vonno and the SDG Highlanders honorary Colonel Dr. Kevin McCormick. The plaque will be permanently mounted in the Dutch Meadows Subdivision on the southwest corner of Elst Ave. where it intersects with Rotterdam Way and Dutch Meadows Drive. It will form part of the SDG Counties historic plaque tour.

Dutch Meadows was envisioned by Iroquois-based Swank Construction, with some members were present for the unveiling.