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.
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 |
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.
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]
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