Impressive commemoration of the Fort near Rijnauwen in Bunnik: ‘So that we never forget’ – Bunniks News

May 5, 2024 at 12:48

Commemorations

BUNNIK On Saturday evening, May 4, a long procession walked from the Stayokay to the Memorial of the Fort at Rijnauwen. The large number of people who came despite the rain was impressive. There were many parents with young children who walked along and students from all over the municipality. While walking, many realized that the walk to the monument was also the last journey that the 52 young men made at the time.

by Lia van der Heijden

As always, the commemoration on May 4 was prepared down to the last detail. Janneke Schermers, chairman of the Remembrance Monument Foundation near Rijnauwen, opened the commemoration. In her opening speech, she said that this year’s theme ‘Freedom tells’ in the prelude to 80 years of freedom, is still very topical given recent developments. Schermers: “We also want to make those who do not bear scars aware of the sacrifices these young men made. On May 4, the men who lost their lives for our freedom are commemorated here.”

NEXT GENERATIONS

It is very important to pass on these stories to future generations

In the speech that Mayor Ruud van Bennekom gave, he talked about one of these men. Every year the mayor investigates the history of one of the executed people so that the background of the person becomes visible. This time he told the story of the Belgian general practitioner Jules Goffin. This year Belgium is already celebrating the country’s liberation 80 years ago, but this will not be the case for the Netherlands until next year. Jules Goffin was a general practitioner and provided medical care during the Second World War for people in the resistance in s’ Gravenvelden and English pilots in the border area, until he was arrested. On August 13 he was sentenced to death and finally executed on October 9. Van Bennekom: “It is very important to pass on these stories to future generations.”

What would it be like if freedom did not exist? Hans Nap mentioned all the names of all 52 Dutch and Belgian resistance fighters. “So that we never forget.”

SYMBOL

In addition to Dutch people, several Belgian resistance fighters were also shot. A representation from the Belgian embassy will be present this evening. Nap previously talked about the bell that is rung at the commemoration. This church bell is hung in a bell chair whose corner posts have different lengths. This is a symbol for the different ages of those shot. The poles are not nicely finished, they have a rough end, just like the death of the resistance fighters that meant an abrupt end to their lives.

It means a lot to you, it is very special and impressive to see so many people arriving for the commemoration

This bell is rung every year by two people from the Utrecht Bellringers’ Guild. Paulien Mettrop and Renée Swanen have been doing this for ten years. Mettrop: “It means a lot to you, it is very special and impressive to see so many people arriving for the commemoration. It is very important to keep doing this, no matter what the weather is, I am going to ring the bell!”

POEM

It is nice to see how passionate many people are who contribute to the annual commemoration. How young people experience the commemoration was evident from the poem that children’s mayor Adriënne Vroege read. She read Irma Moekestorm’s poem: ‘What would it be like if freedom did not exist?’, a beautiful poem that Adriënne read very movingly. Many were moved by the text ‘What would it be like if there was danger on every corner, fear to speak, fear to remain silent?’

Together with Mayor Van Bennekom and his wife, Adriënne laid a wreath at the monument. Many relatives laid wreaths and flowers. A group of family members have been coming from Belgium for years, but several generations from the family of the Dutch resistance fighters are also represented. The province of Utrecht, the Belgian embassy, ​​children from the Bongerd Odijk primary school and the Anne Frank school Bunnik and many representatives from the Bunnik community laid flowers.

THANKS TO THE VOLUNTEERS

Chairman Janneke Schermers thanked the many volunteers who contributed to the commemoration. The choir ‘Multiple Voice’, Constantia Music Association, Police, Fire Brigade, First Aid, Scouting, handyman company Allround: all contributed to a memorable evening that young and old will remember.