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.
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.
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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Patricia Venturelli, Mayor of Rebecq
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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André Flahaut, State Minister
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
Dennis Abbott and Wilfred Burie recite the poem "Elegy to the Heroes of Silence", respectively in English and French
Reed the complete text hereDennis Abbott et Wilfred Burie
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.
See the complete video realized by Eliane Keppens on You TubeThe 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.
The King's Represntative lay the Sovereign' wreath
H.E. Ambassador of Canada, M. Alain Gendron
H.E. Ambassador of New Zealand, Mrs. Diana Reaich and Colonel Ryan Mckinstry, Defense Attaché
H.E. M. Edward Brannigan, Chargé d'Affaires a.i. of Irish Republic
H. E. M. Per Strand Sjaastad, Ambassador of Norway
S.E. Monsieur Pieter Jan KLEIWEG DE ZWAAN, Ambassadeur des Pays-Bas et la Colonelle Talitha Born, Attachée de Défense
H.E. M. Pavel Klucký, Ambassador of Czek's Republic
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.
See the complete video realized by Eliane Keppens on You Tube
Colonel Hubert Stahl, Defense Attaché
Group-Captan Justin Fowler, Defense Attaché accompagnied by Master Air Crew Roland hartwell
Defense Attaché of USA, ColonEl Edward Dupont
Defense Attaché of Australia, Wing Commander Jesse Laroche
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.
See the complete video realized by Eliane Keppens on You TubeM. André Flahaut, Minister of State
Colonel De Groote, representing the Minster of Defense
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.
The Mayor of Rebecq, Mrs Patricia Venturelli and M. André Deschamps, Alderman
M. Francis Hertzog, Alderman of Enghien
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.
See the complete video realized by Eliane Keppens on You TubeMrs Andree Ferrant for the Royal British Legion
M. Francis Plas for the 550 Squadron RAF North Killingholme
M. Jean-Marie Michel for Le Souvenir Français
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.
See the complete video realized by Eliane Keppens on You Tube
M. Willy Sonk for the FNRI
Mrs Marie Christine Chevalier for the "Armée Secrète"
Mrs Nadine Clarisse for the CEAC
Wilfred Burie, President ends the wreaths laying for the association "The Belgians Remember Them"
See the complete video realized by Eliane Keppens on You TubeAfter "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.
See the complete video realized by Eliane Keppens on You TubeThe bell ringer
The Royal band of Belgian Air Force plays the European Anthem and the Belgian one which close the remembrance service
See the complete video realized by Eliane Keppens on You TubeThe 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.
The G14 of Memory!...
The pupils of the 6th class of the communal school of Rebecq served the Memory, with conviction.
The Elected whom the organizer thanks for their support
H.M. the King of the Belgians - Canada
New-Zealand - Republic of Ireland
Kingdom of Norway - Kingdom of Netherlands
Czek Républic - Fédération of Russia
French Républic - United Kingdom
United States of America - Républic ofe Poland
Australia - Minister Flahaut
La Défense - Governor of the Province of Walloon Brabant
Commune of Rebecq - City of Enghien
1 Wing Beauvechain - Royal British Legion
550 Squadron RAF North Killingholme - Royal Air Forces Association
F.N.R.I. - Armée Secrète
C.E.A.C. - The Belgians Remember Them
We Will Remember Them