Prior to the ceremony on Meerpaalplein, a memorial gathering was held in the main hall of De Meerpaal. This gathering was open to everyone. Based on the national 4 and 5 May Committee’s annual theme ‘Freedom Speaks’, the program gave meaningful and diverse expression to this theme. The gathering was structured around eight segments of ten years each, in which people from different generations shared what freedom means to them and the message they want to pass on. The program featured a dance performance by the De Meerpaal Dance School, a musical contribution from Theaterschool KARAKTER, performances by students, contributions from local schools, the Veterans Foundation of the Municipality of Dronten, and others. The evening was hosted by Marleen Vos.

Afterwards, the ceremony continued on Meerpaalplein. There was music from Harmonie De Eendracht and Maris Sonores, and singing by the Flevo Men’s Choir. Two members of the Flevo Scouts carried the standard, accompanied by an honor guard of a currently serving soldier and a veteran from the municipality of Dronten. The other Flevo Scouts carried the 24 wreaths. There was a flypast by Tom van der Meulen in a Harvard aircraft, and the Edambusters flew over in two planes. An impressive speech was given by Mayor Jean Paul Gebben. Maya Sloot, a student at Ichthus College, read the winning poem from the poetry contest.

The 4 May Remembrance Foundation Dronten considers it important that the tradition of remembrance in Dronten remains visible through the ceremony on the square. Following the British tradition of placing poppy crosses on Remembrance Day (11 November) in honor of those who fell in the First World War and all wars thereafter, 450 poppy crosses were placed next to the Airmen Monument. These crosses bore the names of the air gunners who visited Dronten between 1977 and 2022. The poppy crosses were designed and made by Aeres University of Applied Sciences.

A special aspect of this year’s ceremony was the attendance of family members of William Middleton Ward and James Leslie Osborne, crew members of the Lancaster whose propeller forms the Airmen’s Monument.

It was a dignified commemoration attended by many.

“Lest we forget” and “We pass freedom on.”

Click here for a photo impression with pictures by Dick van de Graaf. 

Click here for the broadcast by Omroep Flevoland.  

Click here for a video by De Dronter Reporter on the memorial gathering. 

Click here for a video by De Dronter Reporter on the ceremony at Meerpaalplein.

Click here for a video by Lokale Omroep Dronten.