Taya Loverin leads a group of Oliver Elementary students in planting tulip bulbs to honour fallen veterans at the Oliver Cemetery during last Friday’s planting of the Friendship Tulip Garden. At right is legion president Marty Foss. The event commemorated the 70th anniversary of Holland’s liberation by Canadian soldiers in the Second World War. Trevor Nichols photo
Close to 300 school children, veterans, Dutch immigrants and other Oliver residents came together October 16 to plant 700 tulip bulbs at the veterans memorial in the Oliver Cemetery.
Flanking the path to the memorial, the flowers will grow to become a Friendship Tulip Garden, commemorating the 70th anniversary of Holland’s liberation by Canadian soldiers from Nazi occupation.
The ceremony was made possible by the gift of hundreds of red and white tulip bulbs from the Canadian Garden Council, part of 100,000 it distributed to 140 communities across the country replicating the original gift from the Dutch to Canadians for their role helping that country during the war.
Jim Stewart, a Canadian veteran who fought in Croatia, helped make the application for the flowers on Oliver’s behalf. He was assisted by Mel Wiker from Future Gardens. Stewart said he was moved by the overwhelming community support for the project.
“As a veteran I can’t tell you how much it warms my heart to see so many people from the community out here today,” he told the crowd before planting began. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart, as do all veterans.”
In an interview Stewart later said he wanted Oliver to be a part of the project because he thought the town’s veterans should be honoured.
“For me veterans are just …” he said, trailing off as he clasped his hand tightly over his heart. “They have a real special spot for me. And just the thought of beautifying this [memorial] it seemed like the right thing to do.”
After his speech, Stewart and legion president Marty Foss handed out the bulbs to children and adults lining up in front of them as they filled each of the 700 pre-dug holes.
Young Kelan Harty, who along with his sister Laura was decorated with Canadian flags, said he was there because he admired the soldiers that helped liberate Holland.
“It’s just such an important happening that we just thought we really just had to come and plant tulips,” he said.
“I have always loved the Dutch, and I just love the idea of planting tulips,” his sister chimed in. “I’ve never done that before, and I’ve never even felt the bulb, so it was very nice.”
Jack Costna, a Dutch immigrant who lived through the Second World War, has been to several memorial services honouring Canadian soldiers.
“In Holland Canadians can do anything they want,” he said with a chuckle, adding that he loved attending anything that honoured Canadian soldiers.
For Stewart, people like Costna and the Hartys made the day so special. Turning a smiling face to the crowds of people he said he was sure the flowers would be beautiful once they bloomed, but they won’t look “half as good as this.”
By Trevor Nichols
