Liberation Tree Deurne

On May 5, 1955, ten years after the liberation, Mayor Roefs planted a pin oak in the castle garden as a liberation tree.


On May 5, 1955, the Oranjevereniging Deurne commemorated the day that the people had been liberated from the German occupation ten years earlier. On this occasion, a pin oak was planted in the Castle Garden near the Dinghuis. At 10.15 am they had to line up in the streets of the Heuvel and the surrounding area and at eleven o'clock they had to be present in the garden at the Dinghuis. The procession, led by music, departed from the village, in procession towards the Groot Kasteel.

Once they arrived in the castle garden, the delegates positioned themselves in a semicircle around the planting hole that had been dug a few meters in front of the Dinghuis. The mayor and other Deurne administrators of the municipality of Deurne and associations stood against the wall of the Dinghuis with a lectern in front of them. After the welcome by the chairman of the Orange Association Antoon van Griensven, forester Van de Nieuwengiessen explained the location of the planting hole and the properties of the pin oak.

The planting hole was dug approximately where a historic lime tree had previously stood and which had been felled due to age and danger. The tree that was planted was a pin oak with branches growing horizontally. After the necessary ceremonies, the tree was planted by scouts and trumpet blowers. Then three people from all associations were allowed to leave and, at a signal from the forester, throw a shovel of earth into the planting hole. We started with the guides, followed by Christian Youth, scouts and Catholic Young Farmers. Kajotters, Catholic Young Farmers, korfball players, OVU, football players from SJVV, Mixed Hockey Club Deurne, junior football players from SV Deurne and gymnastics club KDO.

The Catholic Young Peasantry then completed the work.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Martin Damen