The Liberation Fire was lit in Wageningen at midnight by 96-year-old British veteran Harry Rawlings. He did this together with mayor Floor Vermeulen of Wageningen and the mayor of children of Gelderland, Seppe Meijer zu Schlochtern (11).
liberation parade
Rawlings, who himself fought in the Second World War, is part of a group of twenty very elderly British veterans who have come to the Netherlands to participate in the Liberation parade in Wageningen today. The men open the parade in historic army vehicles.
The Liberation Fire arrives today at various locations, including at the fourteen Liberation Festivals that are being held.
Torch to Germany
The torch that arrives in Nijmegen is brought to the German border at the end of the afternoon, where German relay runners are ready to bring the Freedom Fire to Kleve in Germany. It is the first time that the fire from Wageningen has crossed the border.
In Germany mayor Wolfgang Gebing van Kleve and mayor Hubert Bruls of Nijmegen light the fire. Gebing also attended the memorial ceremony in Nijmegen last night.
