History
The "Stichting 18 September" is a continuation of the "Stichting Bevrijdingsherdenking", which, after its 25th anniversary in 1969, ceased to exist.
Ever since 1945, the city of Eindhoven organizes a number of historical, cultural and sporting events as parts of its celebration, being Holland's only city do so on an annual basis.
During the same year (1945), the foundation's initiators expressed the desire to annually obtain a "flaming torch" from Normandy, France, to be used for the ceremonial lighting of the "Freedom Fire" in Eindhoven. In order to make this become a reality, friendly relations with the city of Bayeux, Normandy, were established; Bayeux being the first city to be liberated during Operation Overlord on June 6th, 1944. Over time, ties with Bayeux became so close that, in September 2008, Eindhoven and Bayeux officially declared themselves "sister cities". To this date, Eindhoven is the only European city to obtain its freedom fire torch from Bayeux, France. Of interest is the fact that several surrounding cities and municipalities utilize Eindhoven's fire for their own commemorative celebrations, which take place days later.
The freedom fire torch, carried by bicyclists who are joined by runners in the final miles of the track, travels from Bayeux nearly the same route which allied forces covered "by foot" in 1944, as part of their eventual northbound journey to Arnhem, Holland. Whereas it took allied forces 105 days to travel 650 km (400 miles) from Bayeux to Eindhoven, it only takes the bicyclist and runners 2 days to make the journey!
On September 17th 1944, thousands of parachutists of the American 101st Airborne Division landed near Best, Holland, just miles north of Eindhoven. The troops entered Eindhoven from the north, and joined forces with ground troops (from the United Kingdom and Ireland) which had moved into the city from the south. The heroic efforts by the joined allied forces led to Eindhoven's liberation from German occupation just one day later, on September 18th 1944.
