Faces to Graves

The opening ceremony of the photo exhibition The Faces of Groesbeek took place on Saturday 29 April 2023. During this ceremony there were speeches by the chairwoman of the Faces to Graves foundation, Alice van Bekkum, the Canadian Embassador Ms. Lisa Helfand and Mr. Erik Weijers, Deputy Mayor of the municipality of Berg & Dal.

A musical performance was provided by the singers Ms. Kerstin Jansen and her sister Ms. Ilka Kropman assisted by Mr. Peter Rutten on keyboard. In the beautiful uniforms of the City of Apeldoorn Pipes and Drums: Maj. Sjoerd van Leersum and Edwin Snoecks, bugler Henk Hubbers.

After the moment of silence, concluded with the Reveille and Lament, Danny Murphy of the Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 005 spoke the words of the Act of Remembrance.

After which scouts from Scouting Beek symbolically placed the last photos and thus officially opened the exhibition.

Finally, the proformance of the singers of We'll meet again is sung, after which there was coffee and tea for everyone in the tent next to the cemetery.

The photos will stay at the graves till 21 May.

Click here to watch the video of the event

Canadian liberators in the spotlight, paying tribute to those who never returned home

At the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, 2619 soldiers are buried, among them many young Canadians who died in the fight for our freedom. To pay tribute to them

THE FACES OF GROESBEEK

event will take place at the cemetery from 29 April up to 21 May 2023. All available photos (over 1700) will be placed at the graves, literally giving a face to these young men.

The opening ceremony will be held on 29 April at 2pm for invited guests and other interested parties.

The photos will remain at the graves until 22 May 2023. The cemetery will be open to visitors daily. Volunteers from the Faces to Graves foundation will be present between 10:00 and 16:00 to provide information about the cemetery and the men buried there.

The youngsters have also been thought of, with information and puzzles. On 17 May, Wednesday a children's lecture will be held.

During the last weekend of this event, on 20 and 21 May 2023, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is organising the War Graves Weekend with the theme 'Discover, Learn, Remember'.

Faces to Graves is a non-profit organisation, founded in 2015 and based in Groesbeek. Its aim is to paint a picture of all the soldiers at the Canadian War Cemetery by compiling their life stories, preferably with a photograph and possibly with family memories, a letter or other memento. This work is done by the volunteers of Faces to Graves who devote many hours of their free time to this cause. The life stories are made available to the general public in a Digital Monument on the website www.facestograves.nl as a tribute to the Canadian soldiers who gave their lives for our freedom. This website also contains more information about the Faces to Graves organisation, e.g. how to become a volunteer, how to give (financial) support and how to pass on new information about soldiers.

If you want to read more, please go to our website www.facestograves.nl

or if you have information / photos email: info@facestograves.nl