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* Report: July 15th, 2023: The Belgians Parade to the London Cenotaph *

Ceremony of solemn tribute - Memorial of Rebecq
Rebecq, Wednesday September 29th, 2021

Since the ceremony originally scheduled for May 19, 2021 was cancelled due to a pandemic, it was on September 29 that we welcomed the Representative of His Majesty the King of the Belgians and the representatives of the 14 nations that had nationals belonging to the Royal Air Force, fallen in Belgium during the Second World War.
These were the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Poland, the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, the United States of America and Belgium.
The solemn tribute was also addressed to all the Resistance members who helped the survivors of plane crashes to hide from the enemy, including the Soviet Army soldiers were taken prisoner by the Nazis on the Eastern Front and sent into captivity in the Belgian coal mines to extract the coal for the German war industry. they joined Belgian Resistance group of “Armed Partisans”,
The Russian Federation was therefore present at the solemn tribute.
The Royal Music of the Air Component led by Chief Music Commander Matty Cilissen and an Honour Guard detachment of 1Wing Beauvechain were commanded by Commander Daniel Lebrun.

Arrival of the Representative of H.M. the King

The King’s Representative is welcomed by the President of the association who introduces him Patricia Venturelli, Mayor of Rebecq and Colonel Olivier De Groote, Military Commander of the Province representing the Minister of Defense.


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Speech of Patricia Venturelli, Mayor of Rebecq

The Mayor said her speech:

"Patriotic commemorations are always important moments for me because they allow us to pay tribute to all these men and women who fought in the front or in the resistance to defend peace and our freedoms.
This duty of remembrance is, for me, something particularly important, it is probably even more important today than yesterday, in a world where intolerance and extremism unfortunately gain ground every day.
In a world where, the loss of bearings, the withdrawal on oneself, the fear and the rejection of the other, populism and the easy clichés conveyed by some and especially by social networks take precedence over the values of freedom, fraternity, solidarity, tolerance..."


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solemn tribute-Rebecq, 29/09/2021

Patricia Venturelli, Mayor of Rebecq

Speech of André Flahaut, State Minister

The Minister pronounce his speeh:

"Today’s ceremony is dedicated to memory and the ongoing work that must be done to keep it alive.
The Memory links.
It unites yesterday and tomorrow.
It signals towards the past as well as towards the future.
It illuminates the present.
Our duty is to maintain it.
The solemn act of Memory that we are paying this morning, particularly in honour of the airmen of the Royal Air Force, is all the more important since the social and political context is worrying..."


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solemn tribute-Rebecq, 29/09/2021

André Flahaut, State Minister

Speech of Wilfred Burie, President

he President of the association "The Belgians Remember Them" addressed the King’s Representative and the assembly in these words:

"Mr Representative of His Majesty the King, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
The monument you see here was inaugurated ten years ago.
It was erected in memory of the crew of the Bombardier Lancaster of the 550 Squadron of the Royal Air Force which crashed in these places on May 28, 1944 while returning from a bombing mission in Germany.
The accident was terrible!
Its consequences too!..."


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Wilfred Burie, President

Recitation dof the "Elegy to the Heroes of Silence

Dennis Abbott and Wilfred Burie recite the poem "Elegy to the Heroes of Silence", respectively in English and French

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Dennis Abbott et Wilfred Burie

Naming of the civilan and military Victims

The names of villagers arrested by Gestapo on June 26th, 1944 and those of the RAF Airmen fallen to Rebecq on May 28th, 1944 were recalled.

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solemn tribute-Rebecq, 29/09/2021

Laying of wreaths

The laying of flowers began with that of the King’s wreath which the King’s Representative laid.
Then, M. Alain Gendron, Ambassador of Canada, Mrs. Diana Reaich, Ambassador of New Zealand accompanied by Colonel Ryan Mckinstry, Defence Attaché and M. Edward Brannigan, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of the Republic of Irelande proceeded to deposit their sheaf.
They are followed by M. Per Strand Sjaastad, Ambassador of Norway, M. Pieter Jan KLEIWEG DE ZWAAN, Ambassador of the Netherlands accompanied by Colonel Talitha Born, Defence Attaché, M. Pavel Klucký, Ambassador of the Czech Republic and Colonel Igor Kolodin, Defence Attaché of the Russian Federation, who in turn lay their wreaths.

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The King's Represntative lay the Sovereign' wreath


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H.E. Ambassador of Canada, M. Alain Gendron

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H.E. Ambassador of New Zealand, Mrs. Diana Reaich and Colonel Ryan Mckinstry, Defense Attaché

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H.E. M. Edward Brannigan, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of Irish Republic


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H. E. M. Per Strand Sjaastad, Ambassador of Norway


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S.E. Monsieur Pieter Jan KLEIWEG DE ZWAAN, Ambassadeur des Pays-Bas et la Colonelle Talitha Born, Attachée de Défense


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H.E. M. Pavel Klucký, Ambassador of Czek's Republic


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Colonel Igor Kolodin, Defense Attaché of Fédération of Russia

It is to the French Defense Attaché, Colonel Hubert Stahl, the British Defense Attaché, Group-Captain Justin Fowfler, accompanied by the Master Air Crew Roland hartwell, the American Defence Attaché, ColonEl Edward Dupont, the Australian Defence Attaché, Wing Commander Jesse Laroche and the Vice Consul of Poland, Mr Kacper Szyndlaerwicz.

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solemn tribute-Rebecq, 29/09/2021

Colonel Hubert Stahl, Defense Attaché


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Group-Captan Justin Fowler, Defense Attaché accompagnied by Master Air Crew Roland hartwell


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Defense Attaché of USA, ColonEl Edward Dupont


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Defense Attaché of Australia, Wing Commander Jesse Laroche


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Vice-Consul of Poland, M. Kacper Szyndlaerwicz

Than Mr André Flahaut, Minister of State, Colonel De Groote, representing the Minister of Defense lay their wreath. They put together the wreath of Mr Gilles Mahieu, Governor of the Province of Walloon Brabant, empeached.

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M. André Flahaut, Minister of State


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Colonel De Groote, representing the Minster of Defense


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They lay together the wreath of the Governor of Province of Walloon Brabant

The Mayor of Rebecq, Mrs Patricia Venturelli and M. André Deschamps, Alderman of the patriotic associations of Rebecq lay a wreath for the Commune of Rebecq while Mr Francis Hertzog represents the City of Enghien.
Colonel Jean-Didier Vandezande represents 1 Wing of Beauvechain.

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The Mayor of Rebecq, Mrs Patricia Venturelli and M. André Deschamps, Alderman


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M. Francis Hertzog, Alderman of Enghien


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Colonel Jean-Didier Vandezande represents 1Wing of Beauvechain

Mrs Andree Ferrant lays a wreath for the Royal British Legion, Francis Plas for the 550 Squadron RAF North Killingholme, Jean-Marie Michel for the Souvenir Français and Group Captain Justin Fowler Group for the Royal Air Forces Association.

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Mrs Andree Ferrant for the Royal British Legion


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M. Francis Plas for the 550 Squadron RAF North Killingholme


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M. Jean-Marie Michel for Le Souvenir Français


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Group Captain Justin Fowler for the Royal Air Forces Association

M. Willy Sonk represents the Fédération Nationale et Royale des Invalides et Mutilés de Guerre, Mrs Marie Christine Chevalier, the "Armée Secrète" Zone I & IV et Mrs Nadine Clarisse the European Confederation of Veterans.
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M. Willy Sonk for the FNRI


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Mrs Marie Christine Chevalier for the "Armée Secrète"


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Mrs Nadine Clarisse for the CEAC

Wilfred Burie, President ends the wreaths laying for the association "The Belgians Remember Them"

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solemn tribute-Rebecq, 29/09/2021

The Minute of Silence

After "Last Post", the "Exhortation" is pronounced in French and English. The minute of silence follows, chanted by the bell of the knell. Then, it is to the "Kohima" to be pronounced in both languages. Finally, the ringing of the "Reveille" rings out, thus closing this moment of recollection.

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solemn tribute-Rebecq, 29/09/2021

The bell ringer

Hymns

The Royal band of Belgian Air Force plays the European Anthem and the Belgian one which close the remembrance service

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solemn tribute-Rebecq, 29/09/2021

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Departure of the King's Representative


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The solemn tribute ceremony ended with sharing of friendship under the sun timidly trying to pierce the clouds.
All the participants agree that they had a great moment of Remembrance and are happy to have been able to honour in a dignified way the Heroes of the day.

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The G14 of Memory!...

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The pupils of the 6th class of the communal school of Rebecq served the Memory, with conviction.

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The Elected whom the organizer thanks for their support

Tributes

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H.M. the King of the Belgians - Canada

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New-Zealand - Republic of Ireland

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Kingdom of Norway - Kingdom of Netherlands

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Czek Républic - Fédération of Russia

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French Républic - United Kingdom

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United States of America - Républic ofe Poland

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Australia - Minister Flahaut

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La Défense - Governor of the Province of Walloon Brabant

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Commune of Rebecq - City of Enghien

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1 Wing Beauvechain - Royal British Legion

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550 Squadron RAF North Killingholme - Royal Air Forces Association

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F.N.R.I. - Armée Secrète

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C.E.A.C. - The Belgians Remember Them

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We Will Remember Them

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