Royal Canadian Legion

Liberation of Belgium Ceremonies and Events 2010

Legion members from Zone Europe traveled to Belgium to participate in the Liberation of Belgium Ceremony at the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem and other related events and activities during our weekend stay 10-13 September.

Saturday at 0800 hours we paraded the colours and participated in the ceremony that officially starts the annual "Operation Switchback March" in the town of Aalter. This march starts each year in a different town and the marchers travel through the now beautiful Flanders countryside that was the route of the Canadian Army advance during the Second World War and ends at the Canadian Museum in Adegem. This year, as in the past a Canadian Military Contingent from SHAPE was in attendance. The ceremony was held at the Polish Monument along with a wreath laying ceremony. A wreath was laid on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion. Following the ceremony we were given breakfast at a local café by our host.

At 1030 hours we conducted our own ceremony and wreath laying at the memorial in Oostkamp that pays tribute to the Canadian soldiers that fell in this area during the first fighting in Belgium. This ceremony by the local population is held each year on the first Sunday of September based on the actual time of the battles that took place. We were welcomed by the local mayor’s representative and invited by her to a local café for refreshments following the ceremony.

In the afternoon we traveled to Ypres and in route visited sites which included the Canadian Memorial, Hill 62 and the Tyne Cot Cemetery. Arriving in Ypres we discovered the inner city was completely blocked off which made it extremely difficult to find a parking place. Eventually we arrived at a local restaurant where we had supper and I had the opportunity to present a certificate of appreciation to Comrade Steve Douglas of the Maple Leaf Legacy Project who lives in Ypres and annually contributes a substantial amount to our Poppy Fund. We then attended the Last Post Ceremony with a Colour Party at the Menin Gate. A wreath was laid on behalf of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Sunday we participated with a Colour Party at the Liberation Ceremony in the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem. For the past few years this ceremony was officially a Canadian/Polish ceremony and I could never understand why the British Soldiers buried in this cemetery were never mentioned. I can happily say that this situation has now been finally rectified and henceforth this ceremony will officially be referred to as the Canadian, Polish and British Commemorative Ceremony. The ceremony was very well done with the presence of the King's representative, dignitaries representing Canada, Poland and Great Briton, local Mayor's, Military Band, Choir and our very own Piper Comrade Diederik De Jaeger. The ceremony was highlighted by the participation of the youth through presentations, song and placing of flowers in tribute to their liberators. Ceremony ends with a fly past of planes dropping Poppies over the silent graves.

Following the ceremony we attended the reception where we have the opportunity to meet and chat with old friends and make new ones. It's all over much too soon as we bid farewell until next year.

We then went to the Canadian Museum where the owner Comrade Gilbert Van Landschoot each year provides us with lunch which is very much appreciated. We spend some time there in the afternoon relaxing and chatting with friends that join us.

Later in the afternoon we returned to the Cemetery to lay a floural tribute on the grave of Corporal Edgar Arundell and his wife June at a request from their daughter Sandra Arundell who lives in England but due to illness in the family was unable to attend the ceremony this year. Iris Van Landschoot laid the flowers as Diederik played the bagpipes.