Getting
to Holland
How Needed Articles May I
T10 the New York Herald Tribune
-1- According to the Netherlands
Consul General, the Royal Dutch
Airlines (KLM) will carry free any
package sent to the devastated
areas of Holland. I hope the
readers of the New York Herald
Tribune will avail themselves of
this service and get packages of
clothes and blankets started on
their way at once.
We read that the Island of Wal
cheren has been most heavily hit.
After the terrible devastation suf
fered by this island during World
War II when the Germans, in their
fury, broke the dikes and flooded
it and laid waste to what had been
the "garden of Holland," it seems
unfair of Nature to flood it all over
again.
I visited Walcheren first in 1948
after reading that most interesting
book, "Roll Back the Sea" by A.
den Dollard. While this is a novel,
it is, at the same time, an accurate
account of the bombing and flood
of Walcheren the "drowned
island" it was calledand its
reclamation.
Then, last summer, I visited
Walcheren again. One could hardly
believe that in four short years so
much could be done. All over the
island hundreds of new homes had
been built, and there were many-
very fine housing unitssimilar to
our garden apartments. The fields
were planted and the harvests were
'e Sent to Nation in Distress
good. The people were very happy
and proud that, through their own
efforts and a great deal of Mar
shall plan aid, they were getting
back on their feet again.
Now comes this terrible flood,
and again the Island of Walcheren
is inundated. One of the flooded
areas is the city of Flushing (Vlis-
sengen). It would seem to me that
here is a splendid opportunity for
our own Flushing on Long Island
to get busy at once and send help
to its namesake. I am sure the
good Burgomaster of Vlissengen
Dr. B. Kolffwill be overjoyed if
recognition of his present difficul
ties were shown by the people of
Flushing, L. I., by sending needed
help.
The Dutch are a wonderful
people to help. They are so grate
ful, so genuinely appreciative. I
have learned this through my own
projectBrooklyn Adopts Breuke-
len. Also they are a very proud
people and would not come out and
actually ask for help. That is why
I hope all who are able will take
advantage of the opportunity of
sending over whatever packages
they can through KLM. Send
packages to the Dutch Consulate,
10 Rockefeller Plaza, New York
City.
MARGUERITE A. SALOMON,
Founder and Executive Director,
Brooklyn Adopts Breukelen
Project.
Brooklyn, Feb. 3, 1953.
