Photo of the Week 2019-06-10

With the 75th Anniversary of D-Day last week, I found myself reflecting on my recent trip to the Netherlands, the research that I did leading up to the trip, the experience itself and well ...

Morning trail to Camp Vught

... the memories and emotions stirred yet again.

During an initial review of images from the trip, I had flagged this view of the wooded area near Camp Vught with the early spring growth emerging. The sense of calm and peace that morning starkly in contrast to what it must have been like in '43/'44. This was a place for morning runners, for those bicycling to work or school, for those like me seeking the morning's fresh air (I needed to shake off sleep having just arrived on an overnight flight and still 8 hrs from checking into my hotel where I looked forward to a nap before dinner).


DJE

Photo of the Week 2019-04-15

Last week's tribute post coincided with the 74th Anniversary of my grandfather being killed in action during WWII. On that day I was nearing the conclusion of my pilgrimage through the Netherlands to the place he was killed and his grave in Holten Canadian War Cemetery.

While on this trip, I took time to capture elements of the journey through my lens. This post, with WWII related content, may not be of interest to regular followers of my work, nor may the content be comfortable for some. But I am compelled to capture what I experience with my camera, it's what I do.

Those who cannot remember the past ...

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
- George Santayana

First stop on my trek after landing in Amsterdam at 6:30 am local was Camp Vught, a fitting beginning to a place of hardship and atrocities suffered under the Nazi regime. If you are interested in the background story to each image, click the link just before each to open learn more.

I began my time here with a hike through the woods to the Execution Site where 329 people, mostly Dutch Resistance fighters, were executed and the memorial that now marks the spot.

Execution Site

 Konzentrationslager Herzogenbusch

Children's Monument

Bunker Tragedy

Wall of Reflection

 My visit, a very sobering experience that I will never forget ...

DJE