The Liberation parade with a military parade on 5 May in Wageningen is now once every five years and no longer annually.
The Ministry of Defense says it concluded an agreement about this with the Wageningen 45 foundation, which is organizing the event last October. According to a spokesperson, defense supports many commemorations in the Netherlands and this puts too much pressure on operational capacity.
Defense will continue to support the annual commemoration on May 5 in Wageningen in other ways. Military music is played and the military provides standard bearers, a guard of honor and props. The flypast of military aircraft is also continuing.
Veterans
The parade in Wageningen normally consists of veterans and Defense employees. It is unclear whether veterans will still be in the Liberation parade in the future. “The veterans would very much like to, but we are still looking for the possibilities to realize this,” said a spokesman for the National Committee on Remembrance of the Capitulations 1945.
The Wageningen municipal council wants the council to make another attempt to change defense thinking, reports Gelderland broadcaster.
The Liberation parade was last held in 2019. It was canceled last year due to the corona pandemic. This year it has also been canceled for that reason.
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