The Arthur and Area Historical Society planted 700 tulips in a raised flowerbed at the Arthur cenotaph on Oct. 16.
The tulips, donated by Vesey’s Bulbs in PEI, were one of 140 tulip gifts being distributed across Canada by the Canadian Garden Council for the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands and the Dutch gift of tulips.
The event was attended by veterans, staff and council members of Wellington North and members of the Arthur and Area Historical Society and horticultural society.
“It’s not so bad that it’s kind of a cloudy, gloomy, rainy day because this is really a celebration of us Canadians and people form Arthur, Canada’s most patriotic village, helping to deliver the Dutch from those dark gloomy hopeless days of the Second World War,” said Mayor Andy Lennox.
“I think we should be very proud to feature these in our cenotaph park.”
Ian Turner of the Arthur and Area Historical Society, said, “The bond between Canada and the Netherlands is strong. It was forged by the Canadian liberation of Holland from Nazi aggression in 1944 and ‘45. This victory came at a terrible cost; 7,600 Canadians died and are buried far from their homes and loved ones.”
The historical society plans to hold a blooming celebration in the spring to commemorate the garden.
