Canadian Tulip Festival: Ottawa, Canada May 2015

[Michael R.]

The logistics of this event must be somewhat frustrating for the organizers. It certainly has been disappointing for our small local group of universal carrier owners from a few hundred miles outside the immediate Ottawa area as we spent time and money towards preparing to attend what was originally envisoned, in part, to be an anniversary liberation parade.

From my viewpoint it appears the will does not exist in Ottawa to support the dedicated efforts of the event organizers. This apparent lack of support by those Canadians in both an administrative and political position to enable and enhance the event is in stark contrast to how the Dutch in the Netherlands behave in similar circumstances. Of course the Dutch knew and still remember the human costs of having been an occupied country. Shame on those Canadians who may have participated in putting up artifical barriers to a memorial parade that could (in my self serving, narrow, one sided view) have also included in a small part, the iconic tracked armour and supporting equipment that is correct to the period.


My best wishes that the event exceeds expectations and does justice to the memory of not only our Allied and Canadian veterans, but also that of the Dutch people who lost so much and have been ever appreciative of the Allied effort, and in particular the Canadians during the liberation of the Netherlands.