Dutch Queen and Bush lead VE Day memorial

(8 May 2005) SHOTLIST

1. US President George Bush and Laura Bush being greeted at the cemetery by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
2. President Bush and Queen Beatrix along
3. President Bush and Queen Beatrix walking up to wreaths
4. President Bush and Queen Beatrix standing in front of wreaths
5. Top shot of President Bush as wreath being laid
6. Mid view of President Bush standing in front of wreath
7. President Bush and Queen Beatrix standing in front of wreaths
8. Wide view of President Bush and Queen Beatrix standing with wreaths in front of war memorial
9. Mid view of Queen Beatrix adjusting the ribbon on the wreath
10. Mid view of President Bush and Queen Beatrix standing together
11. Wide top view of the ceremony
12. President Bush and Queen Beatrix walking along carpet
13. President Bush and Queen Beatrix standing
14. Mid view of grave stones
15. Tilt up of grave stones
16. Mid view of President Bush speaking at podium
17. Mid view of seated veterans
18. SOUNDBITE: (English) US President George W. Bush:
"On this peaceful May morning we commemorate a great victory for liberty. And the thousands of white marble crosses and Stars of David, underscore the terrible price."
19. SOUNDBITE: (English) Dutch Prime Minister Jan Pieter Balkenende:
"British, Canadian and Polish troops, they liberated a continent that had laboured under occupation and oppression for five long years. Our debt of gratitude is too great to express in words. They gave us the most precious gift; freedom. Today I salute them."
20. Pull out from crowds of veterans gathered at the cemetery
21. President George Bush shaking hands with veterans

STORYLINE

US President George W. Bush paid homage on Sunday to the "terrible price" paid by World War II soldiers who never came home.

Bush marked the 60th anniversary of the May 1945 signing of the Berlin armistice that ended the war in Europe in a solemn remembrance ceremony at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, where 8,301 U.S. veterans are buried.

In thanking the Allies, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said the American liberation of the Netherlands from the Nazis gave his country back a "most precious gift - freedom.

Before the speeches, Bush and Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands laid wreaths at the Margraten war memorial to pay tribute to US soldiers who died in World War II.

In socially liberal Holland, Bush is widely unpopular, but in the region around the graveyard, within walking distance of the German and Belgian borders, Americans also are fondly remembered for their wartime rescue.

Many local Dutch still bring flowers to the headstones in honour of the deaths incurred by US forces as they set off from near here, blitzed toward Berlin and helped bring down the Nazi regime.

Bush thanked the Dutch people for adopting and attending to the graves of American troops whom they never knew.

The event was one in a series of ceremonies worldwide on milestones in the conflict that drew in 61 countries and claimed 55 (m) million lives, including 405,000 Americans.

From the ceremony, Bush flew to Moscow where he and dozens of other world leaders are continuing the V-E Day celebrations at a Red Square military parade that Russian President Vladimir Putin is staging.

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