Major with German ancestry to lead march through Holland -- peacefully this time

In the spring and summer of 1940, an officer with a German surname leading troops on a march through occupied Holland was not uncommon. Fast forward 77 years, and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Major Darren Reck will also be marching through the Low Countries, but with a much more innocent objective. Reck has been selected as team leader of a unit of men and women participating in the storied Nijmegen Marches.

In 1909, the Dutch infantry, with the aim of improving their ability to carry weight over long distances, began the training marches that evolved into the current event. The Nijmegen Marches now draw over 50,000 civilian participants from 50-plus countries. The civilians and military members march the same 160 km route across the Dutch countryside and small towns together, and see the completion of the four-day event as a test of their mental fortitude and physical endurance. The CAF has sent teams to Nijmegen every year since 1952.

Reck and his team took a quick break from training Wednesday morning, stopping at Lee Park in the midst of a 20 kilometre march. The team planned to add 30 kilometres to their march total Friday, with another 40 kilometres scheduled for Saturday. Each team member carries a weighted pack. Needless to say, this is a fit bunch.

"It's been a dream of mine since I joined the military to partake in this kind of activity. My roots go back to Holland, my mother emigrated from Holland when she was young," said Reck, adding that it was important for him to explore those family roots.

One of the highlights for the Canadians participating in the Nijmegen Marches is the warm and respectful reception that the Canadian soldiers receive from the locals. The 1944-45 campaign to liberate Holland resulted in 7,600 Canadian deaths. In a 2016 interview with Canadian Military Family Magazine, Col. Kristiana Stevens, a five-time Nijmegen participant said: 

"When we march through the little towns in and around Nijmegen in our four days of marching, we could be surrounded by thousands of other people and as soon as our Dutch hosts, the families that live around the route, see the Canadian flag it’s quite amazing, it actually gives me chills, because it’s just like there’s nobody else around but Canada and they all start chanting ‘Canada, Canada, thank you Canada.’ The children run up and want to hold our hands, they want to give us popsicles. We are so loved by the people of the Netherlands."

Ten more members will be selected to travel to the 101st Nijmegen Marches, to be held in July, joining team leader Reck. There are now 15 candidates who have been training consistently throughout the spring, and Reck said that those who do not make the final team will be on standby as alternates.

"There are key milestones that all marchers for Nijmegen have to achieve, and those are to march 500 kilometres as a team, and to have marched [individually] at least one 40 kilometre back-to-back march. So we'll do 40 one day and 40 the next," explained Reck. He added that the competition is even more gruelling, as it is set up as four days of 40 kilometre marches.

Reck admits that these marches that last for hours provide ample opportunity to really get to know your marching partner. "We do some singing, and we have really good esprit de corps among the team, we talk a lot, and you get a chance to march with different people, at least that's what I try to do, pair them up differently each day so it stays fresh."

What was striking was that as the team approached, nearing the 20-kilometre mark of their training march Wednesday, there were still smiles and a sense of purpose about the group. "Happy to be serving, and happy to be a part of this," said Reck.