Canada War Museum

Commemoration day on september 8th, 2002.


We are honoured with the visit of The Canadian Ambassador, His Excellency,J.Bilodeau, the Lord Mayor and president of the VZW Belgium Canada, Mr Jean Rotsaert de Hertaing and his wife, Mrs.Beatric� de Spoelberg. The Canadian Ambassador received the Canadian War Museum Award.

Radioroom Canadian War Museum

His Excellency, The Canadian Ambassador, The President VZW Belgium Canada and his wife,

20 meter: 14.325 MHz SSB
14.135 MHz SSB
15 meter: 21.235 MHz SSB
10 meter: 28.325 MHz SSB
80 meter: 3.744 MHz SSB
3.544 MHz CW
2 meter: 145.325 FM
144.325 SSB

award CWM

Wat is radioamateurisme voor de Nederlandstaligen.


Zendamateurs herdenken de bevrijding.

At the end of the second World War, this part of Belgium was liberated by Canadian soldiers, to commemorate the event, each year a number of ceremonies are held in the region. It has been a custom for Belgian radio amateurs to participated in these commemoration days for many years.

On September 7th and 8th,2002, our radio club will be present for the second time at the Canada War Museum, in Adegem (Maldegem) near Bruges. Lots of Canadians visiting Belgium stop by the war museum.

Our presence at the war museum on these commemoration days is but a small token of appreciation for those Canadian soldiers who died for our freedom on September 12th, 1944.

I would like to thank all clubs and radioamateurs who help us spread the information about this special event. With your help this special remembrance weekend will be a great success.

May I ask you to notify the members of your club about our special event station ON4CWM (Canada War Museum). Use any means that seem appropriate i.e., in your club newsletter, packet radio, your Website or local club meetings.

The commemoration starts on Friday evening, September 7th with a reception at the Canada Museum and a visit to the gardens and the museum. On Saturday, September 7th and Sunday, September 8th,the special event station ON4CWM (Canadian War Museum) will be active all day long on the following frequencies and modes:





We look forward to contacting as many Canadian hams as possible during that weekend. For this special occasion, a special award and QSL card is available just for a mere contact. Please send us your QSL card and $ 6.00 (US) to help cover the award expenses. The award is also available for SWLs.

This year we will have better antennas. We look forward to working you all on September 8/9th !

Best '73 and 88.

Marian, ON4AYL

phone and fax: +32 050713651

E-mail: [email protected]

special QSL

REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY ADEGEM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

The Adegem Canadian War cemetery is situated along the road from Maldegem to Eeklo, province of East Flanders, Belgium.

During the months September-October 1944, a grim battle was fought between the German 15th Army and the 1st Canadian Army. A lot of soldiers were killed or brought in wounded at the first aid posts. The ones who got killed were buried on the spot where they fell. The ones who died during transport to the back or in the first aid posts, were buried at a temporary burial ground. The Temporary Canadian Burial ground in Maldegem was situated along the Aardenburgkalseide.

A few months later two inhabitants of Adegem donated a piece of land which was easily accessible for cars etc., and the decision was made to transfer all graves to this new burial ground in Adegem (Maldegem). By the end of May 1945 more then 800 casualties were out to rest again at their new burial place. In the years after the war, more casualties were transferred to this war cimetery from small town cemeteries all over Belgium and even from France. At this time some 1145 Canadian soldiers are buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem. The last re-burial took place in September 1996, when the remains of Squadron-Leader George Reid, who was excavated in April of the same year, were put to rest at the war cemetery.

The first ceremony after the war took place on September 9th, 1945 when the population of Maldegem went in large numbers to the war cemetery to pay tribute to those who died for our freedom. They all went to the new burial ground as they all knew what the war had been like and what debt they owed these fallen Canadian soldiers.

The first official Canadian ceremony took place on June 16th, 1946.
Participants were: Canadian Ambassador Turgeon, Majors Cameron and Tessiers(chaplains), Major Amelot (representative of the Belgian Minister of National Defense) and many other officials as well as non-officials.

So far, every year an impressive ceremony has been held in honor of those buried at the war cemetery. Since 1952, every year a representative of His Majesty the King of Belgium or a member of the Royal Family, has been present at the ceremony, together with the Canadian and Polish Ambassadors, politicians from Belgium and abroad, more then 60 veteran associations from Belgium and abroad as well as many other people keen to pay there respect.

A joint Catholic, Protestant and Jewish religious ceremony is followed by several speeches from officials. At a flower tribute more then 100 flowers and laurel leafs are deposited at the Cross of Sacrifice which is the statue standing in the middle of the war cemetery. Traditionally a small aircraft drops thousands of poppies over the cemetery.

The official part of the ceremony is followed by a meal, which closes the day's events. Comes the time for less formal conversations amongst the guests, that bring up good and less good memories.

One thing should never be forgotten: THEY DIED FOR OUR TOMORROW


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