Well, most of us couldn’t make it. So, as you know Paul and Charlie went to represent us.
It was a massive success. Paul reports that the Dutch truly appreciated us not going this year. We showed, by not going, that we respected them.
The result was that there was a closer focus on Paul and Charlie and the reason for their visit. That focus meant both newspaper and TV had pieces about the new commemorative pin.
Here is Paul’s report in full:
It was a great honour to be in Arnhem & Oosterbeek this weekend with my great friend Charlie McColgan, to formally present the Flower Children the 2020 pin in recognition and respect of their efforts since 1945. Charlie presented a pin to Kiki (age 9) as it was their meeting last year that sparked the idea that rekindles an old tradition of the veterans giving the flower children a souvineer. The pins are provided through funds raised by Charlie and presented on behalf of the Airborne Forces Riders to the Flower Children of Arnhem. The pin is a copy of the flower children statue and is dated 1945-2020 and in coming years the end date will change and there will be small variations, making each year unique and collectable. There will only be 2000 issued each year with the majority going to the flower children and the remainder sold to raise funds for the following year.
We are grateful for the advice and assistance of Frans Ammerlaan and Hans Kelderman of the Market Garden Foundation , Daphne and her mum of the organising committee of the Flower Children and the outgoing Elderman of Renkum/Oosterbeek.
Paul Moore RE, Maj (Retd)
President