Arnhem 2020 Lock Down

Discussion in 'All Anniversaries' started by stolpi, Sep 14, 2020.

  1. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    From the local Newspaper "De Gelderlander":

    Roads to well-known Airborne memorial sites will be closed to all traffic on Saturday or Sunday. The municipalities of Ede and Renkum have decided to prevent public attending the commemorations at the Ginkelse Heide in Ede or the Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek.

    The 76th commemoration of the start of the Allied liberation operation Market Garden in the Arnhem region in September 1944 only takes place in a closed circle due to the corona virus.

    “It is the first time since 1945 that no veterans, relatives or other visitors are welcome at the memorial service at the Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek. That is very terrible, "said organizer Erik van der Meiden.

    The Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery contains more than 1750 soldiers who fell in September 1944 during the Battle of Arnhem. On Sunday morning all roads to the cemetery will be closed, including for walkers and cyclists.

    https://www.gelderlander.nl/ede/wegen-naar-bekende-airborne-locaties-komend-weekend-dicht~a62e0bd6/

    Ginkelse Heide 1.jpg
    This is how the Ginkelse Heide probably will look like next weekend, no parachute dropping and no crowds of visitors. For the first time in 76 years, this year it will remain quiet and empty.
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2020
  2. JimHerriot

    JimHerriot Ready for Anything

    Thanks for posting this information up stolpi, very, very much appreciated.

    Kind regards, always,

    Jim.
     
  3. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

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  4. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Sober commemoration Airborne on Ginkelse Heide

    A sober ceremony this morning on the Ginkelse Heide near Ede commemorated the start of Operation Market Garden on 17 September 1944. There were a few speeches and a few dozen visitors attended. There were no veterans from abroad.

    Operation Market Garden normally is commemorated on a grand scale. Just as in 1944, planes drop hundreds of mainly British, but also Dutch paratroopers. Early in the morning there are often long traffic jams of thousands of visitors in front of the spectacle. There are special receptions and reunion events for war veterans from Great Britain, America and Canada.

    Not so this year, 76 years later, says Omroep Gelderland. On the Ginkelse Heide this morning there were a few dozen chairs for the same number of visitors, one and a half meters apart. There were speeches by dignitaries with solemn words and wreath laying. Two elementary school children read a poem in which they thanked the soldiers of that time "with all their heart" and there was silence for a minute. No planes and no air landings.

    Sobere herdenking Airborne op Ginkelse Heide

    See also:
     
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  5. jonheyworth

    jonheyworth Senior Member

    Grrrggghhh . Bastard bloody covid , please excuse my French. Kind of you to point the above restrictions out
     
  6. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    Commemoration of the fallen Airborne soldiers in Oosterbeek

    Traditionally, on the Sunday of the Airborne weekend, the fallen are commemorated with great tribute in the presence of veterans, their families and thousands of other visitors. School children from the area then place flowers near the white tombstones.

    This year, the commemoration due to the corona virus has been restricted. The 'flower children' are not there. Furthermore, all roads to the cemetery are closed, including for walkers and cyclists.

    Flower girl.jpg
    Instead of 2000 children there was only one today, Annemieke van Genderen

    "It is the first time since 1945 that no veterans, relatives or other visitors have attended the memorial service at the Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek. That is very terrible", organizer Erik van der Meiden said recently.

     
    Last edited: Sep 20, 2020
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  7. stolpi

    stolpi Well-Known Member

    airborne falgs.jpg
    Everywhere in Arnhem the airborneflags were out this weekend ... we will remember them

    DIuOQaXW0AAvimY.jpg

    Foto-Omroep-Gelderland.jpg

    Airbornevlag.jpg
     
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  8. BrianHall1963

    BrianHall1963 Well-Known Member

    It was the same at Pegasus Bridge in June a small but dignified service such a shame but best for the old gents god bless them one and all
     
    JimHerriot likes this.

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