WWII Veteran Receives the Dutch Liberation Medal at Taxi Charity event
Updated: Dec 11, 2019
WWII veteran Tom Schaffer was presented with the Dutch Liberation Medal at a Taxi Charity event on 5 December.
The Dutch Liberation Medal was presented to Mr Schaffer at the annual Taxi Charity for Military Veterans Christmas lunch in South East London, by Lieutenant Colonel Rob Arts, Military and Air Attaché and Deputy Defence Attaché, from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The Dutch Liberation medal is presented as a token of gratitude from the people of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to those men and women who contributed to the liberation of the Netherlands during WWII.
Lieutenant Colonel Arts, the Dutch Military and Air Attaché and Deputy Defence Attaché Lieutenant, said: “It is such a privilege representing my country at this Taxi Charity event and presenting our liberation medal to Mr Tom Schaffer. I am really humbled, also by the enormous number of letters sent by Dutch children, illustrating the Dutch gratitude and respect for our World War II liberators will continue big time.”
Tom Schaffer, said: “It is a real honour to have been presented with the Dutch Liberation medal by the Dutch Military Attaché, surrounded by so many friends. Next May, I will be travelling to the Netherlands with the Taxi charity to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Dutch Liberation and I will wear this medal with immense pride.”
Tom was also presented with some of the four hundred Christmas cards that had been sent to the Taxi Charity to distribute to WWII veterans from Dutch school children.
The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans was formed in Fulham in 1948, to work for the benefit, comfort and enjoyment of military veterans, and arranges many trips every year for veterans from all conflicts.
To fund and facilitate these outings, the charity is wholly reliant on generous donations from members of the public, businesses and trusts and the amazing group of London licensed taxi drivers who offer their time and vehicles free.
The charity offers international trips to Holland, Belgium and France, UK day trips to concerts or museums, transport to attend fundraising events, as well as special days out to catch up with friends and comrades.
