Toespraak minister Van Middelkoop tijdens Memorial Day Margraten - 30 mei 2010
Your Majesty, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Shinseki, relatives of the fallen American soldiers, veterans, distinguished guests,
When I was sixteen years old, I set out on my first independent summer holiday. I took my bike and – together with my best friend – went south on a cycling trip. We visited Belgium. We visited France. But my most vivid memory of that first holiday on my own is our stop here, at Margraten War Cemetery.
As I stood here as a young man, I was impressed. Impressed by events that had taken place twenty years previously. For me, at the age of sixteen, these soldiers had fallen a long time ago. This war was history.
It is something of a paradox, but time has brought Margraten closer to me. Growing older, I realised that it is also part of my history, and now I see this hallowed ground with different eyes. Now, having sent soldiers on a mission, I know these soldiers had their own childhood dreams.