1,000 Canadian flags for 1,000 fallen Canadian soldiers
"Lest We Forget"The WWII commemoration ceremonies in connection with the liberation of Knokke-Heist are just around the corner.
This year we are once again welcoming more than 120 Canadian servicemen, teachers and students who will take part in the events in our seaside town and at our neighbours in Zeeland.
Highlights on 1 November are :
- 08:45 floral tribute at Resistance Square
- 09:30 a.m. Remembrance Mass at St Margaret's Church
- 11:15 a.m. tribute at the Canadian Military Cemetery in Adegem.
All ceremonies will be graced by the "For Freedom Pipes & Drums", our local pipe band, led by Pipe Major Franky Leyseele.
The 51st Canadian Liberation March will take place on Sunday 2 November.
It will run from Hoofdplaat to Knokke-Heist, in a 33 km march along the battlefield of the Canadian and British soldiers October 1944.
In those October days, under harsh weather conditions, fierce battles were fought and the sacrifices were incredible, both among the military and the civilian population.
The liberation of our region claimed the lives of a thousand Canadian and Allied soldiers, mostly of very young age.
They found their last resting place at the Canadian War Cemetery Adegem.
Every year during Canada Week (autumn holiday) the residents of Knokke-Heist show their gratitude towards their liberators by decorating their houses with the Canadian flag, the "Maple Leaf". An action that is always supported by the entire municipal administration with the mayor in the lead.
It all started In 2008, the For Freedom Museum was then under construction.
Mayor Count Leopold Lippens and First Alderman, Maxim Willems, both sadly already deceased, were the pillars of support from the very beginning.
Knokke-Heist would be massively flagged with the Maple Leaf.
A worthy commemoration in honour of all those young Canadians, who lost their lives, now 81 years ago to settle the Liberation of Knokke-Heist, the Zwinstreek and West-Zeeuws-Vlaanderen.
Now, in the 18th year of this action and with over 1250 Canadian Flags already acquired by our residents, we are still appealing to the public to decorate facades, balconies and gardens with the memorable Maple Leaf flag. This as a mark of respect for the sacrifices of yesteryear.
Knokke-Heist will once again become "Maple Leaf City".
No city or municipality in the world adorned with so many Canadian flags, something we as Knokke-Heist citizens can be particularly proud of.
We will fly the Canadian flag from Saturday 25 October to Tuesday 11 November.For your information :Canadian Flags (25 €) are still available at :
- The For Freedom Museum, Ramskapellestraat 91-93, Ramskapelle, Knokke-Heist tel. 050 68 71 30
- Tourism Office Knokke-Heist, Zeedijk 660, Knokke-Heist tel. 050 63 03 80
- Cultural Centre Knokke-Heist, Maxim Willemspad 1, Knokke-Heist, tel. 050 63 04 30
- Continental Tours, Lippenslaan 8, Knokke-Heist, tel. 050 61 10 01
- Vervarcke Interieur, Natiënlaan 213, Knokke-Heist, tel. 050 60 10 72