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Mr A.J.M. Baltussen a the 70th<\/span><\/sup> Commemoration of the contribution of the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade to Market Garden<\/p>\nDriel, 20 September 2014
\nMajesty
\nYour Excellency Mr. Komorowski, President of Poland
\nDear Veterans,
\nDear Polish Veterans and widows of Polish veterans from Poland, Canada and the Netherlands
\nYour Excellencies\u00a0 Minister of Defence\u00a0 Mrs. Hennis Plasschaert
\nMinister of State Mr. Francois
\nUndersecretaries of State from Poland
\nAmbassadors from Poland, Canada, USA, UK and the Netherlands in Poland
\nGenerals from Poland, USA, UK and the Netherlands
\nChamberlain in the province of Gelderland Jonkheer De Wijkerslooth de Weerdesteyn
\nThe King\u2019s Commissioner of our province Mr. Cornielje
\nThe Burgomaster of this municipality Mr. Van Asseldonk
\nTe Commander of the Brig. Gen. S.F. Sosabowski\u2019s 6 Airborne Brigade\u00a0 –\u00a0 Brigade General Joks
\nMembers of the Sosabowski family
\nThe representative of the British veterans Staff Sgt. Laurie Weeden
\nThe Burgomasters of the partner municipalities of Overbetuwe
\nAll the British veterans present this afternoon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
On behalf of the Driel-Polen Foundation I would like to welcome you all to this commemoration, where we give special attention to the contribution of the 1st<\/span><\/sup> Polish Independent Parachute Brigade to Market Garden – 70 years ago.<\/p>\n Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls Your Majesty, Your Excellences, ladies and gentlemen,<\/p>\n \u201cFreedom is something you agree on\u201d was the theme during this year\u2019s liberation commemorations in May. Definitely a theme to remember and to continue to work on together!! Boys and girls I told you about the incredibly long journeys many of these Polish veterans had to embark on, in order to eventually be dropped here near Driel in September 1944. In many cases they were no longer able to go back to their country and families after the war. Good luck!!<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/b>We would also like to extend a very warm welcome to you on this afternoon when we are devoting our attention to the 1st Polish Independent Parachute Brigade\u2019s contribution to Market Garden, 70 years ago.
\nGirls and boys of the choir. It\u2019s fantastic that you are all gathered here this afternoon with such a large group. It\u2019s certainly also a very special occasion for you to all be part of.<\/p>\n
\nThe subtitle we have opted for this year is reciprocity. This means having respect for one another. This is an important feature of a free society. We are very lucky to be able to take this for granted in our country.
\nHowever, you will read and see plenty on television and the internet to know this definitely isn\u2019t a matter of course everywhere in the world.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong><\/b>The Polish veterans are seated in the section next to you. In previous years I have visited you at school to tell you a little bit about the history and about how we make sure we spend time remembering what happened. You may remember that I told you how Poland became occupied in 1939 and how this resulted in many families being forced to leave Poland for the far north of Russia. There certainly was no free society for those people back then.<\/p>\n
\nTry to spend some time during this memorial service thinking about how this would make you feel and what living in a free society means to all of you.
\nWe all \u2013 and especially these veterans \u2013 think it\u2019s wonderful that you are going to be singing 2 songs in Polish this afternoon. It\u2019s certainly also very special that you\u2019ll be accompanied by your peers from Poland.<\/p>\n
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