Caption:
WWII veteran Jan Schuurkes (100 years) receives the Gelderland veterans medal from the hands of the Commissioner of the King Daniël Wigboldus.
In the Royal Home for Former Military Personnel and Museum Bronbeek, Commissioner of the King Daniël Wigboldus addressed the 100 Gelderland veterans who received the medal in person. The remaining 13,000 Gelderland veterans will receive the veterans medal with an accompanying letter this autumn, possibly extending into the spring of 2026.
Impact of War on Gelderland
The Commissioner of the King mentioned how the impact of war in this province is still felt. “Gelderland was in the front line for 9 months. From resistance and reprisals in the Veluwe, the bombings of cities like Nijmegen, Huissen, and Doetinchem, to hiding in the Achterhoek, the Battle of Arnhem, and evacuations in the Betuwe. At all those places and moments, we reflected last year on what the freedom that followed has cost us and what it has brought us. Freedom must be protected, and when necessary, even fought for. No one knows better what that truly means than you.”
Resilience and Perseverance
Some veterans received a personal word. Like the 104-year-old marine
Johan Geneugdijk, who experienced the Battle of the Java Sea in 1942.
Jules Grunewald was praised for his resilience and perseverance.
He was severely wounded during a mission in Afghanistan and is now active in Defense and an enthusiastic sitting volleyball player. Nadine Ermers knows firsthand what the current threat of war on our continent means; she went on a mission to Romania immediately after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Cor Keijzer was also addressed separately. He is the founder of the veterans network in the Eastern Netherlands region and a pillar of support for fellow veterans.
Caption:
Veteran Nadine Ermers receives the Gelderland veterans medal from Deputy Freedom, Peter Drenth.
Freedom is Not Taken for Granted
In the past year, we have frequently reflected in Gelderland on 80 years of freedom. We also see around us that freedom is not taken for granted. In Gelderland, 13,000 veterans have been personally involved in missions to enforce or maintain peace. As a province, we find it important to express societal appreciation to those who have contributed to peace, security, and freedom. This veterans medal underscores that veterans serve not only military purposes but also society.
Province of Gelderland
Tangible Recognition
On the front of the Gelderland veterans medal is the coat of arms of Gelderland. On the back, the province of Gelderland is depicted in outline with De Zwaardschede in V-shape, which stands for Veteran, Peace, and Security. The honorary medal represents a tangible recognition of the efforts of veterans for society.
