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  "path": "/news/world-war-2-veterans-honoured-dutch-independence-day",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-05T10:20:38.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Watch the moment WW2 veteran pays deeply emotional tribute to twin brother on Dutch Liberation Day",
    "UK pubs closing at rate of two per day as 2,400 jobs lost as taxes and energy costs hammer industry",
    "UK's worst airport for flight delays revealed with warnings it's 'difficult to book with confidence'",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
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  "textContent": "\n\n\nEleven British World War Two veterans are being honoured in the Netherlands today, as part of the country's Liberation Day celebrations.\n\nApproximately 100,000 Dutch people are expected to line the streets of Wageningen in a parade today, to say thank you to the British veterans for their role in helping to liberate the country from Nazi occupation.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe 11 World War Two veterans have been brought to the Netherlands from the UK by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.\n\nThey received presidential treatment upon their arrival, receiving a special motorcade usually only reserved for VIPs.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nOne of the veterans on the trip is 100-year-old Paul Terry, who served in the Netherlands during the war and helped to liberate the country from the Nazis.\n\nHe now also wears his twin brother’s war medals on his chest, who also served in the Netherlands.\n\nMr Terry emotionally told GB News: \"He has unfortunately now passed away… and it’s like he’s here with me and he’s here now…\n\n\"He would have loved this.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAlfred Cooley is another World War 2 veteran who travelled to the Netherlands today. He turned 100 just 4 days ago.\n\nHe told GB News he feels it’s a shame veterans don’t get the same reception in the UK.\n\n“We don’t have anything like this in [Britain]… the only time we have anything like this is for the King and Queen, not for us veterans,” Mr Cooley said.\n\nThe Dutch Liberation Day celebrations began at midnight in Wageningen, 81 years after the Germans signed the capitulation here, officially retreating from the Netherlands.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:\n\n\n\n\n  * Watch the moment WW2 veteran pays deeply emotional tribute to twin brother on Dutch Liberation Day\n  * UK pubs closing at rate of two per day as 2,400 jobs lost as taxes and energy costs hammer industry\n  * UK's worst airport for flight delays revealed with warnings it's 'difficult to book with confidence'\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nAt midnight, a flame of liberation was lit by 103-year-old British World War 2 veteran Robbie Hall.\n\nShe told GB News she felt honoured to be chosen to light the flame.\n\n“It’s a great, great honour as far as I’m concerned. Because you’re lighting the flame of freedom in memory of all those who lost their lives to give us freedom because they were all so young,” Ms Hall told GB News.\n\nDick Goodwin, the Vice President of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, told GB News they’ve been bringing veterans here since 2012.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n“This is a fabulous opportunity to bring our veterans to commemorate Dutch liberation with the Dutch people. We will carry on doing it for as long as we can and while we’ve got veterans to bring with us,” Mr Goodwin said.\n\nOne of the London cab drivers, who drove the veterans from the UK to Holland, said it was a privilege to make this trip with them.\n\nDarren Parr told GB News: “It’s an absolute honour and a privilege to drive the veterans around.\n\n“If we as London taxi drivers can give just a little bit back to those who gave so much, it’s absolutely fantastic.“\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "World War 2 veterans honoured by thousands of Dutch people as country celebrates Liberation Day"
}