Julia Mackey

Jake's Gift: A Canadian WW2 Veteran returns to Normandy, France, to find the grave of the brother who never came home. Written & Performed by Julia Mackey

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

Extremely grateful to @GGCanada for this amazing decoration, and equally grateful to the hundreds of veterans we've met over the past 20 years whose sacrifices and service we've been privileged to pay tribute to through @jakesgift. #LestWeForget.

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

What a beautiful soul. Thanks for sharing Willemien's story with me @JeanBeanSnider & @billsqueegee

[Aesthetic World @AestheticW0rId]

@fasc1nate "All those boys gave us our freedom"

Willemien has tended the grave of a Scottish soldier in her Dutch village for 75 years

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

A real life "isabelle". What a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing this with me, @billsqueegee !

[Fascinating @fasc1nate]

Pictured here is Willemien Rieken. She was only 9 years old when she first began laying flowers on the grave of William Edmond, a British soldier who fought and died to liberate her Dutch Village.

From the day he died, and for 75 years, she looked after his grave and kept his memory alive.

During WWII, William served with the 1st Airborne Reconnaissance Squadron and took part in the Battle of Arnhem in the Netherlands. Sadly, on September 17, 1944, he was shot in the back by a German sniper and fell to the ground.

One of his comrades, St David Christie, rushed to his aid, but nothing could be done to save William. Seconds before dying, he said to David: "Tell my wife I love her." This British soldier was then buried at the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery.

Willemien Rieken passed away in 2020. She was one of the last surviving Flower Children, young people who laid flowers at hundreds of graves of Allied casualties in a ceremony after the end of the war.

Niall Cherry, secretary of the Arnhem 1944 Fellowship, said: "She was one of the last surviving Dutch civilian links to the Battle of Arnhem. Willemien was a lovely lady who tended to the grave of Trooper Edmund for many years. She will be sadly missed."

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

That's a wrap for 2023! https://t.co/TDcDHwFHPQ

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

@bramptononstage @Brampton_MT Can't wait! Very happy and grateful to be back with such a fabulous team @bramptononstage !

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

We are so excited to be back @bramptononstage with @jakesgift this Remembrance Week. Nov 9, 10 & 11 @ 7:30PM. The Nov 9th performance is already SOLD OUT so get your tickets today @ https://t.co/HSQB8yFXvT #Brampton #LestWeForget #Veterans #RemembranceDay

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

Thrilled to be in @Mayerthorpe1 for tonight’s 8PM performance of @jakesgift at @Mayerthorpe Royal Canadian Legion @RoyalCdnLegion Branch 126. Saturday June 10th! #LestWeForget

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

Happy Opening Night to the fabulous cast & crew and entire team at @RosebudTheatre ! @vanstralen and I wish we could be there to take The Trip to Bountiful with you. Have a fabulous run! Break legs! Xoxo

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

@CTVCourtney @CTVMorningYYC Good luck on your next adventure @CTVCourtney ! I’m very glad I got a chance to be interviewed by you before your last day! All the best to you and your family. Thanks for your support! We had an amazing time @RosebudTheatre!

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

I had the pleasure of talking to @CTVCourtney this morning on # @CTVMorningYYC . We are excited to be opening @RosebudTheatre's 50th Anniversary Season! What a milestone - Congrats to their whole team.
https://t.co/bizqRC7oT2
https://t.co/u5CJD0OKEq

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

@CTVCourtney Thank you! It was great to chat w/ you on @CTVMorningYYC about @jakesgift and our upcoming shows @RosebudTheatre . Excited to help celebrate their 50th Anniversary Season. #yyc #rosebudtheatre #dday #ww2 #Veterans #lestweforget

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

@LibTours truly stunning! <3

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

@JanetGlassford Thx so much for sharing @JanetGlassford ! 😘

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

We are excited to announce our first 2023 performance of @jakesgift will be at the fabulous @RosebudTheatre in #Rosebud Alberta! Shows are March 17th & 18th at 1:30PM & 8:00PM. Get your Tickets today!
https://t.co/FtBmcmKK49

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

@thepeakfm Thanks again for the great interview, John! Today's the Day - Wednesday, November 16th, 2022 @ 7:30PM - Join us for our final public performance of @jakesgift at the beautiful @MeafordHall Get your Tickets here:

https://t.co/T9NMMpWISp

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

We've arrived in @Meaford for our November 16th 7:30PM performance of @jakesgift at the beautiful @MeafordHall. Join us for a special evening to honour our veterans past and present and all those who never came home. #LestWeForget #RemembranceDay #DDay
https://t.co/UAbsE5qIWS

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

"At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them". Join us tonight @RoseBrampton for our Remembrance Day Performance of @jakesgift - a love letter of thanks to our veterans. @Bramptonist @CityBrampton #LestWeForget #DDay #veterans #WeWillRememberThem

[The Rose Brampton @rosebrampton]

Everything you need to know about the incredible stories and performances that make up this love letter to veterans, @jakesgift! Limited tix for tonight thru Saturday in The Rose Studio II! #LestWeForget

🎟️https://t.co/pXQgfp8qgY

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

Thank you @Bramptonist for the great preview article about @jakesgift @RoseBrampton !

[Bramptonist @Bramptonist]

Jake’s Gift, a WWII play showing at The Rose #Brampton
https://t.co/sVCljmZ3EQ

[Julia Mackey @jakesgift]

Hey @CityBrampton. Please join us @RoseBrampton to honour our veterans this Remembrance week w/ 3 performances of @jakesgift Nov 10/11/12 @ 7:30PM
& Nov 12 @ 2:00PM. Tickets:
https://t.co/UoFg5rnQgN
#LestWeForget @BramptonFireES @BmptGuardian @Bramptonist