The British Normandy veteran Ray Lord takes the fire of liberation in the evening from May 4th to Mayor of Wageningen The Netherlands, Geert van Rumund.
After the mayor lit the fire of liberation at midnight on the May 5th Square(5 Mei Plein), the fire will go to numerous cities and villages throughout The Netherlands by runners with torches. They will run in groups, some groups have to run all night and make many miles before the fire arrives in their town.
When arrived, the town will have a ceremony in which the fire of liberation is lit in their town too. It takes several hours til the fire burns everywhere over The Netherlands. Igniting the fire marks the transition from commemorate the death on May 4th to the liberation on May 5th.
East Yorkshire Regiment
Ray Lord, now in his nineties, landed as corporal from the East Yorkshire Regiment in June 1944 on the Normandy beaches. He participated in the liberation of Dutch towns. Lord travels in May along with the ‘Freedom Flame’ that is obtained in the English Hull.
In Wageningen the annual commemoration of the capitulation of the German occupiers, is held on May 5th and a Liberation parade with 1500 participants will walk the town. Among them many veterans, even those who fought in WWII. Minister Ank Bijleveld (Defense) takes off the parade. Bijleveld and her college vice-premier Hugo Daniel will speak at the May 5th Square.
Also see:
- Veterans welcomed by cheering during the Liberation Parade
- Busy times for remembrance liberation of The Netherlands in WWII
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