By Renee Cunnington
Between the fall of 1944 and the spring of 1945 Canadian soldiers fought to liberate the Netherlands from German invasion.
This was a hard fought battle for the Canadian military during the Second World War with an almost debilitating amount of casualties, but they persevered and eventually the Dutch borders were breached where food and relief could reach the area that had been without, over a cold harsh winter.
In recent years a special candlelight ceremony has been held around the world, including Ponoka, to commemorate that effort.
On Oct. 10 my husband, daughter and I arrived at Forest Home Cemetery with no preconceived ideas of what we were about to witness. A Canadian flag stood as a beacon for us to congregate with others who were also arriving to attend.
A group of cadets stood together, some high school students and teachers in one group, and family and friends alongside. A woman, notably a veteran, beckoned us to gather closer as the ceremony was about to begin.
She gave an eloquent background as to why we were there; to honour those who fought in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War, and then asked for the youth delegates to come forward.
My son walked out of the crowd and recited a declaration of remembrance and as he finished the crowd responded with, “We will remember them”.
That was the first realization that we were not just spectators but a part of what was taking place.
We were then asked to take candles and place them on the headstones of all the soldiers. The crowd dispersed and we went about our task. There was an undefined quiet until we returned to the flag. Looking out at the vast amount of flickering lights gave way to a gratitude that had not until that moment made its way into my heart.
The Revelry played, wreaths were laid, and we bowed our heads in silence. I had always associated the Second World War with my grandfather who was in the Navy and I had a deep and solemn respect for him and the sacrifice he gave for his country and my freedoms.
I had a very personal connection to the war, yet strangers were put to rest at the cemetery.
As the lights flickered I could picture them standing at attention beside their headstones and we collectively honoured them.
