Uxbridge veteran marks 80th anniversary of VE Day
Lisha Van Nieuwenhove
Uxbridge veteran Jim Parks (in wheelchair) unveiled the “Vector of Memory” in Farmsum, The Netherlands, on the weekend. The memorial, near the Aeolus windmill in Farmsum, marks the story of the fierce battles and the liberation of Delfzijl and Farmsum in the final days of the Second World War. Also present were relatives of Canadian liberators from the Westminster Regiment. Photo used with permission from Joel Stoppels, Liberation Route Europe
Jim Parks is one of the few people still alive who remembers the end of the Second World War; more precisely, VE Day - May 8, 1945. Now 100 years old, Parks marked the occasion in Farmsum, The Netherlands, where he unveiled a monument that commemorates the liberation of the area by the Allies.
The memorial, called “Vector of Memory, is one of many memorials called Crossroad Vectors, which are part of the Liberation Route Europe, an international network that makes the Allied advance of 1944–1945 visible.
With Parks at the unveiling were the mayor of Farmsum, Ben Visser, residents of Farmsum, and relatives of Canadian liberators from the Westminster Regiment.
According to Liberation Route Europe, Visser also presented the first Liberation coin “Eemsdelta 80 Years of Freedom” to Jim Parks.
“We had this coin made as a gift to express our appreciation and connection, and as a keepsake for our guests from Canada and for our veterans from Eemsdelta. It is a great honor to welcome veteran Jim Parks and his family back to Eemsdelta and to show him our lasting gratitude. Their presence is the crowning moment of our program marking 80 years of freedom in Eemsdelta,” said Visser.
Parks visited the area in 2023. During his time there, he recalled the battles in Delfzijl, the town next to Farmsum:
“I still remember being blown through a window by an explosion. That’s when I lost my hearing.”
Liberation Route Europe is a walking network of more than 10,000 kilometers of historical routes, connecting monuments, museums, and memorial sites throughout Europe. The Canadian Trail in the province of Groningen is part of this international project. It covers approximately 135 kilometers and leads walkers past numerous locations where the Canadian army played a crucial role in the liberation of the northern Netherlands.