Holten commemoration marks 61st anniversary of liberation

Canadian War Cemetery

HOLTEN – The 61th anniversary of the liberation of the municipalities of Apeldoorn and Voorst by the 48th Highlanders of Canada recently was commemorated at the Canadian War Cemetery in this Overijssel community.

Along with Dutch dignitaries, Canada’s Ambassador Mrs. Colleen Swords placed a wreath at the memorial for Highlanders’ commander, Lt-Col. D.A. MacKenzie. Squire Beelaerts van Blokland, Utrecht’s former Queen’s Commissioner who still earlier served as mayor of Apeldoorn, spoke at the commemoration on behalf of Dutch officials. The current mayors of Apeldoorn, Voorst and Rijssen Holten each placed a wreath at the main monument.

Music at the event was provided by the 48th Highlanders of Holland Pipes and Drums and the French Somme Battlefield Pipeband. The Dutch band was formed in 1991 to provide a lasting homage to the Canadian Liberators. The band uniforms are nearly identical to those of the original pipe band of the 48th Highlanders of Canada. The Somme Battlefield Pipe Band was formed in France in 1989 to honour Scottish soldiers killed in the area during WWI.