Meet my great grandfather
Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 2:13 am
This is Frederik Meems.
My mother's mother's father, so he is my great grandfather. He died when I was 6, and I was (in part) named after him. Fred Meems enjoyed a cold beer every now and then, as is evident by the above picture. However, that's not the reason I made this thread.
This is:
This is my great grandfather, being knighted in the queen's name, by an officer of the queen, for his actions in the resistance during WWII. The earlier picture with him enjoying a cold beer was actually taken during the celebration for his knighting.
I never knew any of this, until a few months ago. My entire family being dutch born and raised, and (part of) my maternal family being of jewish descent, that side of my family didn't have it easy during the war. I know they hid out in Den Haag for the duration of the war, but no more than that. My grandmother never talks about the war, and I can fully understand and respect that.
However, now that she's also getting on in age, she's starting to open up a little bit more, and a few months ago she sent me an envelope with this story and the two original photos. Maybe, over time, she'll tell me more.
I'm - ... Yeah. It's very humbling to me. I'm still enawed. And tonight, I'm having myself a cold beer, in honor of grampa Meems.
If you're willing and able, join me, raise a drink of your choice to those unsung heroes who helped fight for freedom where none seemed possible?
My mother's mother's father, so he is my great grandfather. He died when I was 6, and I was (in part) named after him. Fred Meems enjoyed a cold beer every now and then, as is evident by the above picture. However, that's not the reason I made this thread.
This is:
This is my great grandfather, being knighted in the queen's name, by an officer of the queen, for his actions in the resistance during WWII. The earlier picture with him enjoying a cold beer was actually taken during the celebration for his knighting.
I never knew any of this, until a few months ago. My entire family being dutch born and raised, and (part of) my maternal family being of jewish descent, that side of my family didn't have it easy during the war. I know they hid out in Den Haag for the duration of the war, but no more than that. My grandmother never talks about the war, and I can fully understand and respect that.
However, now that she's also getting on in age, she's starting to open up a little bit more, and a few months ago she sent me an envelope with this story and the two original photos. Maybe, over time, she'll tell me more.
I'm - ... Yeah. It's very humbling to me. I'm still enawed. And tonight, I'm having myself a cold beer, in honor of grampa Meems.
If you're willing and able, join me, raise a drink of your choice to those unsung heroes who helped fight for freedom where none seemed possible?
