Books from the Past (5)

/ roseburkeauthor

In 1995 the Netherlands and the Royal Canadian Legion celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands.

Selma Kater and Sidney Smith had met and married in Doorn in 1945, following the Liberation.

Sidney passed away in 1990, five years before the anniversary.

Selma attended the celebrations with her sister Hetty Kater Outlet. Selma had previously returned to Holland, but it was the first time for Hetty.

It was an emotional time.

When Selma met her future husband, she and her sister Hetty were living in a cottage at Drift 40 (in the background at left). When they married, Hetty stood up with them.

Sidney and Selma had returned to Holland on a holiday in 1968, and she would have felt his presence during the 50th Anniversary celebrations in 1995. But, once again, it was just Selma and Hetty.

The Liberation of the Netherlands created a bond with Canada that grew even stronger in the following years as many Dutch emigrants chose Canada. My mother’s sister Hetty came to Canada in 1947 with her husband and, in 1948, her brother Albert brought his family to Canada.

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