An Okotoks couple from the Netherlands is inviting the community to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Dutch Liberation Day.
The occasion is celebrated every five years on May 5 to mark the liberation of the Netherlands by primarily Canadian forces in 1945, following five years of Nazi occupation.
Husband and wife Gary and Anneke Scholte marked the occasion by placing 80 tulips along Okotoks' Salute to our Veterans wall on Veterans Way.
The tulips hang from homemade paper vases, each accompanied by notes explaining the occasion and inviting passersby to take a flower.
"Our parents both lived through World War II and were liberated by the Canadians," explained Anneke. "So I think that's a big part of why we are here now, because we grew up loving Canadians so much."
The Scholtens immigrated to Canada on Jan. 1, 2004, and have called Okotoks home for 10 years.
Their decision to move to Canada was largely due to their longstanding affection for the country, said Gary.
"We both heard quite a lot of stories from our parents about the liberation and the Canadians a lot. That's probably one of the reasons why we chose Canada as a country that we wanted to live in."
Anneke recalls the joy her mother always felt when telling stories of the Canadians who brought about their freedom.
"The Canadians didn't just bring liberation. They also brought happiness back to the country. I remember my mom telling me about the songs they would sing in the yard with their guitars. Those stories always make me happy to hear, and it made her happy to commemorate that as well. Now they're not here anymore, but we can still celebrate and commemorate."
She continued, "The first white bread was brought by the Canadians; it was thrown out of the airplanes. My mom always talked about the white bread, how special it was after so many years of hunger."
Tulips were chosen because they are closely associated with the Netherlands, with deep roots in Dutch culture.
Having lived in Okotoks for more than a decade, the Scholtens know very well that the flowers are likely to become deer food if left in place, so they plan to collect them each evening and return them to the wall the following morning.
The Town of Okotoks has a page dedicated to the liberation of the Netherlands on its website.