Today our chairman Tim Ruijling was surprised with a phone call from the Minister of Defense, Ms. Ank Bijleveld-Schouten. She told Tim that His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to appoint him to be a Knight of the Order of Orange Nassau.

Tim receives this royal decoration for his many voluntary activities within and outside Defense. Not only during a period as an active serving officer, but also after his functional retirement, the connection with Defense and society remained. He became secretary of the Platform for Defense & Business in the Southern Netherlands, and became a board member and later chairman of the local division of the VVD. Tim receives the award for his many voluntary activities within and outside Defense. Not only during a period as an active serving officer, but also after his functional retirement, the connection with Defense and society remained. He became secretary of the Platform for Defense Business in the Southern Netherlands, and became a board member and later chairman of the local division of the VVD. He became active within the local veterans association, where he as chairman has ensured that the younger veterans from the municipality of Overbetuwe were also interested in this. In 2014 he had the first inspiration for the Sunset March and together with some other local veterans he founded the Sunset March. Under his chairmanship Sunset March has become the internationally known and appreciated daily tribute which has been performed every day for over five years now.

An hour after the call from the Minister, the Mayor of the Municipality of Overbetuwe, Ms. Patricia Hoytink-Roubos, called Tim to congratulate him on his royal decoration.

The royal decoration itself will be awarded at a time to be determined as soon as the measures surrounding the COVID-19 virus make such ceremonies possible again.

 

 

Links:
Minister belt gedecoreerden
Ridder Tim Ruiling uit Elst krijgt telefoontje van minister Bijleveld én burgemeester Hoytink-Roubos
urrounding the COVID-19 virus enables such ceremonies again.