HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – The COVID 19 situation has overshadowed nearly every aspect of Western society over the past two months, but there is an anniversary that shouldn’t be overlooked because of the outbreak.
It was 75 years ago on Friday – May 8, 1945 – that the unconditional surrender by Germany to Allied forces ended the European theatre of World War II. Vern Blauwkamp, a post advocate with the Henry Walters VFW Post 2144 in Holland, says that his father was on a Merchant Marine boat ferrying solders back home when VE-Day came, but his mother had one vivid memory of the reaction in America to the good news that peace had come.
“All the church bells were ringing when it was over with,” he said on “WHTC Talk of the Town” during a Thursday interview. “Everybody was just having a big celebration, relieved that the war was over with, when the church bells were ringing.”
While Holland’s usual Memorial Day activities for 2020 have been cancelled as a result of the COVID 19 outbreak, Blauwkamp said that his post, along with the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Marine Corps League, will hold a small ceremony on May 25th in the parking lot of the Post off of 8th Street and Maple Avenue in downtown Holland, with a live video stream available on the city of Holland’s website.
