November 12, 2023. After a hectic week of activities, Remembrance Week is over for 2023. However, in the Valkenburg household, remembrance of those who served continues all year round through Pieter’s research and the documentation of as much of his research as possible.
Here’s a whirlwind tour through some of the activities on Prince Edward Island in which we participated over this past week….
…Flags placed at graves of veterans….
On November 3, 2023, Pieter, along with fellow veteran Mario Henry, and Mario’s son Laurie, placed Canadian flags at the graves of veterans buried in 9 cemeteries, and at 4 cenotaphs, in the area covered by the Royal Canadian Legion’s Borden-Carleton Branch #10. This has been done annually for over 20 years.
Pieter Valkenburg (left) and Mario Henry at Bedeque Cemetery. (Photo credit: Laurie Henry)
…Remembrance Week presentations at three schools….
Three Island schools were visited on November 6, 2023 – Somerset Elementary and Kinkora Regional High School in Kinkora, plus Amherst Cove Consolidated in Borden-Carleton. Kinkora Regional High School even provided a delicious lunch!
Somerset Elementary School in Kinkora. Left to right: Arthur Ranahan, Pieter Valkenburg, Kathy Henry, Sea Cadet Makia MacLean, Roger Leboeuf, Air Force Cadet Alessandria Recio, George Palmer, Sea Cadet Olivia Bulman, Mario Henry, Abigail Bulman, Trish Taylor, PEI (17th Recce) Canada Cadet Thomas Palmer, Dawn Gradwell. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Children at Somerset Elementary in Kinkora presented poppy posters to the Legion members. Pieter and Dawn Gradwell hold up two of the posters. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Poppy poster presented by one young artist to Pieter. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
…Remembrance Day in Borden-Carleton….
November 11 was bitterly cold this year, with intermittent rain throughout the day, and light snow flurries in the afternoon. Luckily it stayed dry during the two Remembrance Day ceremonies in which Pieter participated.
In the morning we were at the Remembrance Day ceremony in Borden-Carleton.
Danny Bernard carried the Government of Canada wreath which Pieter placed at the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Cenotaph at Borden-Carleton Legion with the official wreaths. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
…Remembrance Day in Kinkora….
It was so cold that we went home to warm up before going on to Kinkora for the Remembrance Day ceremony in the afternoon.
A chance to warm up before the service in Kinkora began. Left to right: Pieter, RCMP Cst Nicole Hall (ret), The Honourable Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, Rev William Dean of the North Tryon Presbyterian Church. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
The Honourable Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, and Pieter after laying the wreath in Kinkora. Flag bearers: Roger Leboeuf (left) and Arthur Ranahan (right). (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Following the ceremonies we were very happy to return to our warm house and reflect on how lucky we are to live in a country where we could return to a pleasant home, free of war and strife. May we never forget the sacrifices made by so many, and may we never forget that so many people today live in a war zone and are experiencing death, uncertainty, and insecurity in not knowing what will happen next. Lest we forget is never more appropriate.
Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.
© Daria Valkenburg
….Want to follow our research?….
If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/
4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats. Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/
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On The War Memorial Trail Research Project........ with Pieter and Daria Valkenburg 
What wonderful remembrances!
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I do enjoy all your “On The War Memorial Trail” articles. I was feeling a little off colour, probably the Covid shot I got on the 10th. I did actually do my own little service. Standing in my side yard, I looked over the empty field beside our property. I reflected on those brave young (mostly) boys far from the warmth and love of their families and homes. I read The Fallen and In Flanders Field. I then “talked” to my Uncle Frank about how sad I was about him dying so young and I was so sorry I never got to know him. I then “closed” with a prayer hoping the ongoing conflicts in the world (including here in Canada) would end and all humanity could live in peace. I prayed, knowing that that is not going to happen in my lifetime, nor in my son’s or grandchildren’s lifetimes. My little private service lasted about 10 minutes. Brenda
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Thank you for sharing that act of remembrance, Brenda. Your Uncle Frank McGovern, who lost his life during the Battle of Keppeln, was remembered and honoured by you. Daria and Pieter
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