(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
 Royal decorations for Aussen, Haspels, Meenhorst
Nederlands
   AMSTELVEEN / HAARLEMMERMEER / AMSTERDAM (Neth.) -
Today (Friday, April 24), Royal Decorations were handed out to 2,838 people.
Annually, Royal Decorations are handed during the celebrations of the birthday of the Dutch Queen and now of course since a few years the King.
...Hans Aussen with Amstelveen's...
...Mayor Mirjam van 't Veld...
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...Co Haspels is decorated by...
...Theo Weterings, the Mayor...
...of Haarlemmermeer... |
...Ben Meenhorst with his...
...Royal Decoration...
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| (© Photos courtesy of Saskia Aussen, Anouk Haspels & David Meenhorst) |
The decorations are handed out not only to celebrities for their work, but also to the 'common people' to recognize their many years of activities in mostly voluntary work for sports clubs, foundations, organizations, etc.
The Order is a chivalric order open to 'everyone who has earned special merits for society'.
These are people who deserve appreciation and recognition from society for the special way in which they have carried out their activities.
Amongst the decorated persons today, there also were three who are involved in baseball and softball.
At Amstelveen, 89-year old Hans Aussen was Royally Knighted.
Mr. Aussen is married to former Official Scorer Fiet Aussen and has played softball at DVH for many years until at a high age.
Besides that, he has been and is active in a complete other field.
Amongst his activities through the years is giving lectures in schools about World War II, telling of his own experiences during these difficult years.
At Haarlemmermeer, Co Haspels was decorated for his 40 years of voluntary work at Hoofddorp Pioniers.
And in Amsterdam, there was a decoration for Ben Meenhorst, who for many years is the (voluntary) groundskeeper at the home site of Amsterdam Pirates.
All were handed the Knighthood in the Order of Orange-Nassau.
The webmaster of Grand Slam * Stats & News congratulates Hans, Co and Ben with their well-deserved Royal Decoration.
(April 24)
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