Veendam, February 21, 1947 thru March 4, 1947...

Veendam, 1823 - 1953

The Veendam that sailed from Rotterdam, The Netherlands on February 21, 1947 to New York and arriving on March 4, 1947 with my father was the second ship with the name of Veendam.

The Veendam was built from 1914 - 1923 by Harland & Wolff of Glasgow, Scotland. The size of the Veendam 572' x 67' x 32', 15,434 tons, powered by 4 steam turbines with a single reduction geared to 2 propellers with a top speed of 15 knots, with a passenger capacity of 1899 (263 1st class, 436 2nd Class and 1200 3rd Class).

The Veendam was initially a passenger ship for Holland America Line, and then served in World War II. It was instrumental in saving the survivors of the British carrier Courageous. It was bombed during the German attack on Rotterdam, then captured by the German on May 11, 1940, used as housing for U-boat crews at Gotenhafen in 1941 and Hamburg in 1942, and damaged by the 8th USAAF Bombers in April, 1945.

The Veendam was returned to Holland America Line after the war in 1946 and reconditioned in Rotterdam before again entering into service between Rotterdam and New York in January of 1947.

The Veendam most significant aspect was the number of Dutch immigrants the ship brought to the United States. With her last voyage in October of 1953, she was sold to Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Baltimore, Maryland and was scrapped.

Left Page

Line 1 is Gerrit de Boer, a farmer from Langweer, Friesland, NL

Close up of the Left Page

Right Page

Close up of the Right Page

Daddy's Home

Daddy‘s home
He is neither here nor there
I look beyond the clouds to see
I know he’s there
I just can’t see where

Daddy’s home
He was a gift for a while
Dad loved and worked hard
And now he is only in our hearts

Daddy’s home
Altho a man of few words
Those spoken are dear
As we think of him in tears

Daddy’s home
He was the best
And passed all life’s test
Daddy’s home in God’s rest.

My Daddy was the BEST.

Grandpa, I love you...

Not long ago, stood a young man overlooking the blue sea -

and thought, that ocean crossing is for me -

His father's parting words were,

"If you don't like it there, you can always come back home, to mom and me."

A week or so it took, arriving at Ellis Island,

"Check me in, for I have a train for Sib-a-ley.

He loved his family and country - all war torn and such,

but soon found, America, his home to be.

Grandpa,

I love you...

I'll play and pray while you are away...

Mango XOXO

In loving memory of my Dad...

Jurrens Funeral Home

Gerrit de Boer May 19, 1920 to August 17, 2010

As sure is the day we are born, there will be that day we will die. Today is that day for my father. Our father chased a dream from one continent to another - to make his world better - but in the end - he made our world better too.

Dad, you are now in the hands of God, the one you cherished and loved each day. For us, you leave your love over the years, your kindness, your guidances, and your lighthearted way of telling others you cared about them and loved them.

Love you Dad!