Bad Nieuweschans – It was completely silent for two minutes in Bad Nieuweschans at 8:00 PM during the Remembrance Day ceremony. No dogs barking, no birds chirping, no music. It was as if anyone and anything could have the respect not to make a sound for two minutes.
Councilor Jurrie Nieboer: “Seventy-nine years ago, almost a lifetime, but today, with the wars in Ukraine, Israel and the Gaza Strip, it feels more topical than ever. And today, the Netherlands and certainly Oldambt also provide a home to people fleeing war in our country. For example, Bad Nieuweschans provides a temporary home to people from Ukraine.”
Insecurity
“In the Netherlands we find it difficult to imagine what it is like to live in the uncertainty of a war and that is why we commemorate the people who fought for this freedom and those who gave their lives in that struggle.”
“But let us not forget the resistance heroes. They risked their lives to resist the Nazi regime. Many of them had to pay the ultimate price for their fight for freedom. The courage and determination of the resistance heroes have left an indelible impression and that is why we also honor their memory,” said councilor Jurrie Nieboer.
KC Houwingaham
The May 4 committee with children from the KC Houwingaham also laid flowers at the graves of two fallen air force officers HM Hope and LA Thorpe and also at the grave of resistance hero Hendrik Frans Dresselhuis. A flower arrangement was also placed at the monument at the station on behalf of the municipality of Oldambt. This is in memory of the many Jews who were deported to extermination camps.
The musical accompaniment is provided by the Schansker Ladies Choir and the trumpeters Ira and Willem Frieswijk.
