Prince George, B.C.- Today marks the 65^th Anniversary of Victory in Europe (V.E.)  Day, the day  which marks the official end of the Second World War in Europe.

 

It was a day which came as a result of the courage, hard work  and great sacrifices of Canadian and other Allied soldiers who liberated the Netherlands.

 

The Dutch people cheered Canadian troops as one town after another was liberated. Recalled one Dutch civilian who was a teenager at the time of the Canadian liberation of The Hague: "As the (Canadian) tank came nearer . . . there was a big hush over all the people, and it was suddenly broken by a big scream, as if it was out of the earth. And the people climbed on the tank . . . and they were crying. And we were running with the tanks and the jeeps all the way into the city."

 

More than 7,600 Canadians gave their lives for freedom in the Netherlands.

 

A Canadian delegation which includes  Second World War Veterans, youth delegates, the Prime Minister and Premier Gordon Campbell, has been taking part in ceremonies in the Netherlands this week.