Commemorative weekend 80th anniversary of the liberation of Overloon heartwarming success

Words cannot describe the commemorative weekend of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Overloon. The many special gatherings and memories at Overloon War Cemetery, in community centre De Pit, at the freedom monument and in the church of Overloon made a deep impression. Very moving was the reunion of the British families at Overloon War Cemetery with the graves of their loved ones. Family members like Susan Spiers and Ann Malin (pictured above), for example, whose fathers are buried here, or grandchildren who visited their grandfather’s grave for the first time. With them and their adopters, we shared moments that will stay in our hearts forever. 
It was a weekend full of emotions, gratitude and connection that we will never forget. In the words of our president’s speech, we celebrated our freedom that we owe to ordinary people who did extraordinary things.

On Monday 14 October, exactly 80 years after the liberation of Overloon, we organised a Battlefield tour for the British families. We visited the locations where their relatives fought and died as well as three temporary cemeteries. Relatives of Private Thomas Arthur Vaughan and Private Alexander Rae stood by the Janssen family’s house and kitchen garden, where Tommy and Alec were buried. At the Vogelsangs family’s farm, where the temporary burial place was of Private John Victor Hawksby, an audio recording of a song sung by John Victor Hawksby himself before going to war was played on the spot.

In the pouring rain, after a tour through the woods and across a potato field, we visited the place where Lance Corporal William Henry Lewis, among others, was buried on the edge of a wood. The American contribution also came up repeatedly, and the spot where in 1977 by Sieb Wilmsen, two American servicemen were found was visited.
With emotion but also with joy and gratitude, we said goodbye to the British families. We cherish the beautiful memories and new information and photos we exchanged will be incorporated into the biographies of the servicemen.

The presentation and sale of the book ‘If the lime tree could speak’ was also a great success. Currently, the book is sold out but a new 2nd edition will be published soon.
We express our grateful thanks to all who joined us in making this unforgettable memorial weekend.
Also check for news, stories and lots of photos about this weekend on our Facebook page.

Photos by Overloon War Chronicles, Albert Hendriks and Geert Arts