1944 - 2019

National ceremony of solemn tribute - Rebecq (Belgium), May 22nd 2019

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On this sunny day, everything was ready to receive the Representative of the King of the Belgians who would preside over the national tribute to the Royal Air Force airmen who died in Belgium during the Second World War as well as the Belgian Resistants who were involved in rescuing and extracting the survivors of crashes, when they were involved.
The Rebecq Memorial is normally dedicated to the crew of the Lancaster JA712-BQ-H of 550 Squadron RAF North Killingholme, who fell on the spot on May 28, 1944, and to the Rebecq's Resistants concerned by this accident.
The monument is also dedicated to the crew members of the five other 550 Sqd aircraft that fell in Belgium. It is therefore natural that we decided to pay tribute to all those who sacrificed their youth, their freedom, even their lives so that today we can be free
The ceremony was done under the presidence of the Representing of the King of the Belgians. It was a great honor that the King did to the association "The Belgians Remember Them".

Waiting the Representing of the King

The standard bearers of the twoo schools represented and "The Belgians Remember Them"

36 standard bearers represented their organisations

A detachment of 1 Wing of Belgian Air Force, Beauvechain constitued the guard of honor.
The Royal British legion and the Royal Air force sent their standard bearers

The Royal band of Belgian Navy

Upon his arrival, the King’s Representative was welcomed by Gilbert Beeckmans, President, Mr Gilles Mahieu, Governor of the Province of Walloon Brabant, Mr Dimitri Legasse, Mayor of the commune of Rebecq and Commander Daniel Lebrun, Chief of Protocol, Provincial Military Command. Wilfred Burie introduced as the organizer

After having welcomed the Representative of the King, Wilfred Burie invite Gilbert Beeckmans, President, Mr Gilles Mahieu, Governor of the Province of Walloon Brabant, and Mr Olivier Nicholoff, Ambassador of Canada to pronounce their speech

Wilfred Burie, Speaker

Gilbert Beeckmans, Chairman of "The Belgians Remember Them"

Olivier Nicoloff, Ambassador of Canada

Gilles Mahieu, Governor of the Provinve of Walloon Brabant

The Elegy to the Heroes of Silence
Download the Elegy (PDF)

Jacques Sterk and Wilfred Burie recite the poem in French and English, respectively. They salute at the end of each performance

Jacques Sterck

Wilfred Burie

Naming of the civilian and military Heroes

With each name mentioned, the pupil Sébastien rings the gong. Then, the rest of the pupils place a sign of Remembrance for memory

Laying of the wraiths
A total of 28 wraiths were laid by the present authorities, organizations and associations
The Representative of the King lays the wraith of His Majesty the King of the Belgians

See the laying of wraiths of the present authorities

After the "Last Post", George Turner, representing the 550 Squadron RAF North Killingholme pronounces the Exortation and the Kohima. British, Canadian, European and Belgian national anthems close ceremony

George Turner, representing the 550 Squadron RAF North Killingholme pronounce the Exhortation and the Kohima

The King’s Representative is escorted to his car

The pupils of the communal school and St-Gery school of Rebecq
who participated actively to the process of the celebration

We shall remember them

See all the pictures

See the pictures of the reception