Veterans from the municipality of Maashorst have been waiting for their honorary medal for almost half a year. The medal was promised in January by Commissioner of the King Ina Adema to 13,000 Brabant veterans, as a symbolic gesture of respect and gratitude. In Maashorst was hope that they would be in last Saturday, on Dutch Veterans Day. But the letterbox remained empty.
Veteran Carlo Blom from Odiliapeel is disappointed. “Here and there you hear veterans wonder when the medal comes. You don’t hear much from the province, only that there are supplier problems. It has also been said that it would be on Veterans Day. Well, that wasn’t.”
According to Lisette van der Swaluw, spokesperson for the King’s Commissioner, the veterans don’t have to wait long. “Making the tokens happens somewhere else and is in the final phase. It takes some time to find out who gets what. The medals are always sent in packages per municipality.”
“They get a bit easy,” says Blom. “It is not so bad for me, but older veterans are happy with every bit of recognition. It would be nice if they still get the honorary medal before they take out their last breath.”
Ton van Hooff from Volkel, chairman of the Udense Veterans Foundation, is also still waiting for the medal. After various questions from veterans, he sent an email to the municipality of Maashorst last week. “Supplier problems”, he was also told. “We get it in the letterbox within a few weeks, but it feels a bit like mustard after the meal.”
80 years of freedom
The honorary medal is dominated by 80 years of freedom. “We would have liked it if we were the coin had received before May 5. In our region we had been celebrating freedom for 80 years last September, so it feels a bit late. But what’s in the barrel doesn’t sour. “
Van Hooff is especially happy with the attention for veterans. “Fortunately, that happens more and more often. It’s a nice gesture. That coin comes naturally. “
It is not known to the province in addition to the municipality of Maashorst in addition to the municipality of Maashorst. “We don’t have that completely in the picture,” says spokesperson Van der Swaluw. “But the latest shipments will at least go out quickly.”