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Friends are forever at Canada Aviation Museum

May 6, 2009, Ottawa – On May 10, the Canada Aviation Museum and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands are proud to present a full day of family oriented activities to celebrate the anniversary of an important event in the history of both our nations, “Operation Manna."

It was 64 years ago that a team of dedicated Canadian, British and Commonwealth airmen took to the skies “Operation Manna” over German occupied Holland to drop food to the starving Dutch people. They flew their Mosquito and Lancaster bombers at low level and at very slow speeds but the German gunners remained quiet and let them pass to rain food supplies instead of bombs on the Dutch towns and villages. This is a proud day in the history of Canada, a day that should be celebrated and remembered.

Please join us at the Canada Aviation Museum and meet our special guests, including RCAF Veteran Stan Jones, a former radio operator and crew member of the Bad Penny Lancaster which flew some of the first flights of the Operation. Lt. Col. Henry Schevers, Defence Attaché of the Netherlands to Canada, and Lt. Col. Sean Friday, from the Canadian Forces Squadron 435, who will also be onsite to talk about the importance of our countries’ solid cooperation in current missions in Afghanistan. Please note that the presentations will be offered in English only.

This special event is part of the Museum’s Family Sundays program, and also fits into the yearly friendships program “A Touch of Dutch” of the Netherlands Embassy. Parents and children will enjoy activities, demonstrations and crafts with our other guests: Author Glen Mitchell, Storyteller Bruce Carmody, Soprano Pauline van der Roest and Canadian Historical Aircraft Association Vice-President Michael Kohuch.  For many years The Netherlands and Canada have held a close relationship. It originated in the liberation of The Netherlands by Canadian soldiers in 1945 and throughout the years many events occurred that further cemented the friendship between our two countries: The gift of tulips to Canada by Queen Juliana in appreciation of the hospitality the Dutch Royal Family received during WWII and in gratitude for the sacrifices Canadian soldiers made to liberate their country. The Canadian Tulip Festival serves to remember and to celebrate this close relationship and the tulips have become an important symbol of international friendship.

The Museum celebrates spring with a return to its summer schedule as of May 1, 2009, opening daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Canada Aviation Museum, one of the three National Museums of the Canada Science and Technology Museum Corporation, is located at the intersection of Aviation and Rockcliffe Parkways, just 10 minutes from Parliament Hill.