SSR - Photos - Dutch Newspaper, May 5, 2000 - "Canadese waardering voor 'scroll' uit Groningen."

Title - Dutch Newspaper, May 5, 2000 - "Canadese waardering voor 'scroll' uit Groningen."

Pictured: Top (L - R) Cec E. Law and W.M. (Bill) Sutherland (both of 3 Platoon {Mortars} SSR.) Below (seated) is John Rogerson and the famous "Groningen Scroll" featuring the poem, "The Men of Maple Leaf", by John Piëst, and a rendition of the landmark, Martini Tower, by Dutch artist, André van Driesum. John Rogerson was a tank gunner with "C" squadron of the 8th New Brunswick Hussars Princess Louise. Also known as the 8th Canadian Hussars. John is now in his 91st year and lives in Sackville N.B. He married a Dutch girl. (This caption note submitted by Stuart Sullivan, John Rogerson's son-in-law, stuart.sullivan@ns.sympatico.ca, 08Feb2002)

Both Cec and Bill received their Groningen scrolls independently in the mail, at their homes in Canada. Both had their pictures taken with the scroll and sent copies of their pictures to John Piëst, who had sent the scrolls from Haren, Holland. John dutifully placed the pictures into photo albums together with over 500 other like photos.

On the occasion of the "Thank You Canada" Millennium Program, in May 2000, the Groningen Press undertook to do a write-up on the Groningen Scrolls. The reporter and photographer visited John Piëst's home and arbitrarily picked pictures of eight Canadian Veterans and their scrolls (We only show three of the Veterans here.), from the hundreds in John's albums, for their news piece.

Imagine the chances of pictures of two men from the SSR being picked arbitrarily from some 500 pictures? And consider the chances of having pictures of two men from same 3 Platoon, SSR, picked? Quite phenomenal!

W.M. (Bill) Sutherland.

Presentation of the Groningen Scroll.

In June 2001, in celebration of the festivities around Canada Day, Jan Piëst, author of the poem, The Men of Maple Leaf, presents the famous Groningen Scroll, which embodies his poem, to the Canadian Ambassador to the Netherlands. The Ambassador subsequently advised, that the Scroll was given a very warm place in the lobby of the Embassy in The Hague.

Pictured (Left to right): Col. Whitty, Ambassador Serge April, Jan Piëst and his wife, Jellie Piëst, W.O. Phil Quesnelle.

A note from Jan Piest, 14Nov2001:

Dear Mister Gregory Salmers,

"As far as I can see there should be no obstacle to publish the picture of the Groningen Scroll and it would be reasonable to mention the author's name . It may further more be a good idea to let the visitors know that some 1200 of these Scrolls were printed and presented by the author to the veterans who were participating in the liberation of Groningen in 1945. It was a private enterprise taken on in 1995 and partly subsidised by the Mayor and Aldermen of Groningen. The activity called the Men of Maple Leaf will occur in December 2001. It should be a good idea to also print the full text of the poem so everyone can take notice of what the Canadians achieved in 1945 in Holland. Greetings to Mr. Sutherland and his wife from us.

Sincerely yours

John Piëst."

(-paraphrased by GC Salmers, 15Nov2001)

The Men of Maple Leaf

Bold they were, the combatants we knew
How deep our sympathy for them grew
South they came and fought their way
Memory engraved is that glorious day
Lives squandered, precious blood shed
Our want for freedom was finally met
There was scarcely time to fraternize
The battle went on, at high a price
In the actions brave ones would fall
Facing their losses the men stood tall
It took three days to clear the town
Dislodging the enemy beyond our bounds
Stricken by panic some fled to the shore
Deserted or were scattered to the four
Many fighting wearied, surrendered fast
Our war torn hometown was freed at last
Smouldering ruins were marking the place
Where battering damaged her ancient face
Peace returned, the yoke of war was gone
Thanks to the Canadians, a tough task done
To commemorate them we dedicate a forest yet
Maple leaves fell for us, lest we forget