From 17 to 20 september 2009, Eerde was the centre of the celebration of our liberation, 65 years ago.
On the field next to the windmill, a large military camp was built, which had the atmosphere of the liberation period. The camp, which was organized by members of the Living History Group Holland, was fully equipped with a field kitchen, field hospital, communications equipment and "soldiers" with original equipment and original vehicles. On Friday, September 18th the camp was open for students from schools in the region, who were given a guided tour by experts. Over 650 students visited the camp. The young visitors were welcomed at the entrance of the site by Mrs Gelderblom - Lankhout. This lady was living in Eerde in September 1944 as a Jewish girl in hiding.She shared her stories with the children who were waiting to start their tour.
The machine gun position had occasional bursts and the children could experience the weight of the equipment, the soldiers had to carry with them. Both students and teachers were very enthusiastic about this living museum.

Saturday and Sunday the camp was open to the public. About 1,500 people visited this living museum. Saturday was the drama club of Eerde performed a play, with the windmill as a background. That play was depicting a group of civilians who were stopped by Germans. Someone was about to be executed, but fortunately the Americanst arrived just in time. After some exchanges of fire the Germans were defeated.

On Saturday afyternoon, the "Liberation Task Force" arrived , a group of about 30 English vehicles, representing the advance of the British 30th Army Corps from Belgium. The vehicles were a nice extension to the camp. As a tribute to the fallen British who are burried in Eerde, the Liberation Task Force visited the 5 British war graves in the cemetery of Eerde. The "English" stayed in the camp overnight and moved on to Nijmegen on Sunday.
On Saturday there was the "Drop Zone Boogie", an music event in the spirit of the war. The performances of the Big Band Schijndel and the English artist Paul Harper, who is specialized in WWII were highly appreciated by the public, re-enactors and veterans. There was also the opportunity for spontaneous contributions. Veteran Walter Hughes along with members of the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team performed the song Blood on the risers.

 

Twice in the event there was a memorial ceremony at the Airborne monument . The first one was on Thursday September 17, as occurs every year on that memorable date . This commemoration marked the beginning of the commemorative event. The second ceremony was on Sunday, September 20 at the end of the event. The Mayor of Veghel, Mrs. Ina Adema, spoke at both ceremonies and pupils of the elementary school contributed. The commemoration on September 17 started with a parade from the church to the monument. The procession was lead by the children of the adoption class carrying the American, British, and Dutch flag. They were followed by the Color Guard of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division, and 50 soldiers of this unit in active service. Then followed the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team and the re-enactors. Next came the brass band and the guests and audience. At the monument some speeches were held. There was speech by mayor Adema of Veghel, Major Christopher Judge of the 101st Airborne Division, the pupils of the adoption class and the president of the Airborne Committee Eerde. The speeches were interluded with music from the band. After the wreath laying, salutes were fired by the Living History Group Holland. Then Tom Verhagen (12 years old) played Taps. After this musical tribute to the fallen, the Dutch and American anthem were played by the band.
After the ceremony there was an informal gathering, where the bonds between the veterans and the people were again cited. On Sunday, a similar ceremony was held on completion of the liberation event. The WWII Airborne Demonstration Team was present in full equipment.
Dozens of veterans were present at both ceremonies. Some took the opportunity to thank the organizers and other attendees. At the end of the ceremony the veterans received a souvenir from the children of the adoption class.

On Sunday September 20th there was an Airborne Memorial Walk in the area around Eerde. There were two routes, one of 7.5 kilometers and one of 15 km, in which important sites were visited. The landing site (drop zone) was in the route as well as the assembly point where the paratroopers formed themselves into combat units. The Koevering, the site of the death blow to Operation Market Garden was also in the route. The walk led the participants over the ridge of the Eerde sand dunes, where on September 24, 1944 the heroic bayonet charge by the 1st Battalion of the Regiment 501st took place. The start and end of both routes was Eerde windmill. The participants received a booklet containing a description of the route and explanations about the actions that had taken place in September 1944. Everyone also received a certificate and a commemorative coin, that would remind them of this walk and thus the Second World War.

On Sunday afternoon the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team from the United States and the Dutch Pathfinder Parachute Group were to perform parachute jumps on one of the original landing zones (codenamed Drop Zone A) where the American paratroopers set foot on Dutch soil on September 17, 1944. It is even the drop zone where the first soldiers landed as part of Operation Market Garden.
Unfortunately the weather on this day was very misty, and the aircraft did not get permission to take off from Eindhoven Airfield. Luckily there was a parallel program. The Living History Group Holland performed several demonstrations on the drop zone. Among other things, there was a 75 mm Pack Howitzer, which fired very impressive shots. There was also a mock battle. This program was highly appreciated by the audience.

 

We were unfortunate that the paratroopers could not jump, but over all the commemorative event was a big success. There was much appreciation of the veterans who really appreciate that their fallen comrades are remembered every year and that every effort is made to keep the memory of the liberation alive. The organization of this event was in the hands of the Stichting Airborne Eerde Committee, together with the Foundation Eerde Windmill, Foundation Screaming Eagles of WWII, the Living History Groep Holland, the WWII Airborne Demonstration Team and the Pathfinder Parachute Group Holland.