A great day at the NMM!

[Muesli]

Hi folks, fellow lunatics!

It finally happened! What was planned for ages, came to bloom last week!

Here in The southern part of The Netherlands, me and The Dude were enjoying our 'summer' holidays. Part of it was planning to go visit
the National Military Museum in Soesterberg, together with my brother and my niece. We also planned to meet up with world famous Derk,
known here at CA of course!
It was a meeting we both tried to plan earlier, but it never happened until this week. After knowing each other here on CA and on FB for
10+ years it would be our first face to face meeting!

So we drove of from our home town to Soesterberg, the location which has been the former home of USAF 32nd TFS Wolfhounds and
the Camp Royal airbase. We parked the car, walked to the entrance and Derk was there to welcome us and offer us a private tour
around the museum. Since he's a volunteer guide there, we had front row seats! It was a warm welcome and a very relaxed and friendly
atmosphere. Derk also connected with The Dude, my brother and my niece and the mood of the day was set!

Private (=sneaky) entrance to parts which were officially closed... entering vehicles which were 'officially' off-limits... and Derk had lots and lots
of stories to tell and anecdotes to share. We also talked about a lot of stuff... small stuff and big stuff... and because of my own military history 
I also had the chance to visit 'my own' army ambulance which is on display at the exhibit. He appreciated the input of me and my brother,
and expressed his gratitude, as me and my brother shared our history as military veterans from the botched UNPROFOR mission in Bosnia.

We spent the day in a positive atmosphere. We talked, we sat down for coffee and soda, we laughed and we felt great!
Derk grabbed the attention, of both the kids and us. He also gave me a book as a present, which I am reading now.

All of this is just a small portion of that big day. A big day which is also made possible because of this... this site... this forum... this fabulous
and awesome and crazy community which I am part of.
Therefore... I want to say thanks! Thank you Derk! Thank you for the NMM day! But also thank you for everybody here I know. Thank
you all, thank you for your friendships!

Hope to see you one day, somewhere! 

Edited August 22, 2021 by Muesli
spelling and addendum

[Derk]

It was a pleasure and an honour to have you two combat veterans and your kids around. Visits like this are highlights in my volunteer job in the museum because of the variation and the human contact, emotions  and interaction they bring . I know a little bit about what you and your brother had to endure and I am very glad that I could do a tiny bit  in return !! Thanks for what you did for  our country , thanks for your visit and thanks for your friendship over so many years !!!!!!    

Edited August 22, 2021 by Derk