It's Veterans' Day in The Netherlands
and
Armed Forces Day in the UK.
Our symbol is a White Carnation.
The white carnation was worn by Prins Bernard, the husband of Queen Juliana.
History tells that the first royal birthday after the start of the German occupation was his: June 19,1940,
Suddenly the whole country put up the national flag and the statues of the members of the Royal House were decorated with lots of flowers. That was the way of the dutch to express spontaneously their dissatisfaction with the occupation and to show the occupier that their hearts lay with the Royal Family. Everywhere in the country.
and
Armed Forces Day in the UK.
Our symbol is a White Carnation.
The white carnation was worn by Prins Bernard, the husband of Queen Juliana.
History tells that the first royal birthday after the start of the German occupation was his: June 19,1940,
Suddenly the whole country put up the national flag and the statues of the members of the Royal House were decorated with lots of flowers. That was the way of the dutch to express spontaneously their dissatisfaction with the occupation and to show the occupier that their hearts lay with the Royal Family. Everywhere in the country.
Immediately after June 29, the Germans introduced a number of drastic measures: the Dutch flag was banned; Queen's Day could no longer be celebrated; the Wilhelmus could no longer be sung; portraits of the Queen were removed, and all street signs bearing the names of members of the Royal House were replaced. But there was one thing they hadd no conttrol over: the white carnation Prins Bernard was wearing.
Thus it changed from a symbol of personal identity to a symbol of resistance.
Prins Bernard was in England often with the Dutch soldiers.
Gradually it became a symbol for the veterans.
And in 2005 it became the official Dutch symbol for the veterans.
By then I had made my own veteran flag, but a couple of years later someone else made one, andd that one was accepted as the official flag in 2020.
Problem is that the shop that sold it got bad reviews because people didn't recieve what they paid for.
This year I redid my flag and I attached a slightly different meaning to it.
It honors all military who gave their utmost for the freedom of our country, so also foreign veterans, and all military who fought under our flag.
One of my forefathers was a scotsman who came to The Netherlands and became a tammour (Tambour) in the army.
Thus it changed from a symbol of personal identity to a symbol of resistance.
Prins Bernard was in England often with the Dutch soldiers.
Gradually it became a symbol for the veterans.
And in 2005 it became the official Dutch symbol for the veterans.
By then I had made my own veteran flag, but a couple of years later someone else made one, andd that one was accepted as the official flag in 2020.
Problem is that the shop that sold it got bad reviews because people didn't recieve what they paid for.
This year I redid my flag and I attached a slightly different meaning to it.
It honors all military who gave their utmost for the freedom of our country, so also foreign veterans, and all military who fought under our flag.
One of my forefathers was a scotsman who came to The Netherlands and became a tammour (Tambour) in the army.
Through the generations and through the family quite some military men served, even to the highest positions.
And my father served in the RAF.
My best friends are military men, and I work with veterans.
A day as today causes quite some memories to find their way back into the mind.
So the days before and after Veterans' Day are always busy for me.
Some of the people call me each year to tell me how they are doing.
This year it was quite funny to talk with one of them.
After therapy he decided he wanted to be a kind of father figure.
So he asked how I was doing.
I told him about my ankle and back and like some other veterans before he said: so now you know it even better!
As my foot at the moment is completely numb, he gave me a new advice, and I will try it this evening.
So nice!!!
Especially after some very heavy talks.
The heatwave undermines people's emotional resistance.
But they are all dads, moms, partners, hard workers... people who hold their chin up all days, regardless of restless nights, nagging thoughts, and flash backs.
I honor you all!!!
And my father served in the RAF.
My best friends are military men, and I work with veterans.
A day as today causes quite some memories to find their way back into the mind.
So the days before and after Veterans' Day are always busy for me.
Some of the people call me each year to tell me how they are doing.
This year it was quite funny to talk with one of them.
After therapy he decided he wanted to be a kind of father figure.
So he asked how I was doing.
I told him about my ankle and back and like some other veterans before he said: so now you know it even better!
As my foot at the moment is completely numb, he gave me a new advice, and I will try it this evening.
So nice!!!
Especially after some very heavy talks.
The heatwave undermines people's emotional resistance.
But they are all dads, moms, partners, hard workers... people who hold their chin up all days, regardless of restless nights, nagging thoughts, and flash backs.
I honor you all!!!
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