The researcher – Pieter Valkenburg.  The writer – Daria Valkenburg.  Born in The Netherlands, Pieter served in the Royal Netherlands Air Force before going on to a career in the Dutch Foreign Service. He was posted to ten different places around the world during his diplomatic years, and speaks Dutch, English, and German. Now retired, he is a member of the Borden-Carleton Legion.  Canadian born Daria is a retired accountant, adult education instructor, and writer. 

Daria is the author of a book about our 2017 war memorial tour in Europe.  For more information on ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/  You can also watch a short book trailer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCFCCH8MQG8

Daria and Pieter are the translators for ‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’ by Jan Braakman, translated from the original Dutch book ‘Holtense Canadezen’.  For more information, , see the press package prepared by the author: https://janbraakman.nl/press-package-holten-heroes/ or the Amazon Canada entry: https://www.amazon.ca/Holten-Heroes-Stories-Canadian-Honour/dp/B0CM25LRD3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QEQCI0LBFLPK&keywords=holten+heroes&qid=1698840141&sprefix=holten+heroes%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-1

…. Awards….

On October 1, 2025, Daria received the PEI Senior Islander of the Year Award from the PEI Seniors Secretariat of Prince Edward Island, for her involvement with Hear PEI, a volunteer organization that works to build awareness of hearing loss issues, and in the ongoing research and writing of stories connected to the On The War Memorial Trail Research Project, sharing the untold stories of brave Canadians who served in the two World Wars, all based on her husband Pieter’s research.  (See https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/older-islanders-celebrated-with-senior-islander-of-the-year-award and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/10/23/daria-honoured-with-pei-senior-islander-of-the-year-award/)

On July 2, 2025, by Royal Decree of His Majesty Willem-Alexander, King of The Netherlands, Pieter was appointed Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau.  The decoration was presented to Pieter by Her Excellency Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of The Netherlands to Canada, in a beautiful ceremony hosted by His Honour, Dr Wassim Salamoun, Lt Governor of Prince Edward Island. Pieter received his knighthood in recognition of the military research he’s done (and continues to do) to help ensure that Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands are not forgotten, and that their stories are told.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/11/pieter-valkenburg-appointed-knight-of-the-order-of-orange-nassau/ and  https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/pieter-valkenburg-of-p-e-i-appointed-knight-of-the-order-of-orange-nassau and https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-30-island-morning/clip/16162199-islander-knighted-king-netherlands)

On May 24, 2025, Pieter and Daria were presented with a Certificate and a Faces To Graves ‘coin’ by Alice van Bekkum, Chair of Faces To Graves Groesbeek Foundation, for their research into Canadian soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands, finding families and sharing photos of over 100 of the soldiers. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/05/30/on-the-war-memorial-trail-pieter-and-daria-honoured-by-faces-to-graves-groesbeek-foundation/ )

On August 19, 2024, Pieter received the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, from the Minister of Veterans Affairs, The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor. The Commendation had been awarded on January 24, 2024, with the presentation ceremony held in August. (To read the citation, please see https://veterans.gc.ca/en/about-vac/who-we-are/department-officials/minister-veterans-affairs/minister-veterans-affairs-commendation/valkenburg-pieter-anthonie)

On June 10, 2023, Pieter and Daria received a Legionnaire of the Year award from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 10 in Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island.

In February 2023, the Board of Governors of the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation selected Pieter and Daria for a 2023 Heritage Recognition Award for our research project ‘On The War Memorial Trail’. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/05/15/we-receive-a-2023-pei-heritage-recognition-award/ and https://www.peimuseum.ca/pieter-and-daria-valkenburg-heritage-recognition-award)

On October 21, 2022, Pieter received the PEI Senior Islander of the Year Award, for his ongoing research to uncover the stories and photos of those who served in WWI and WWII, and sharing his research findings with the public. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/10/23/pieter-receives-pei-senior-islander-of-the-year-award/)

In January 2020, Pieter was awarded the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers for his ongoing research to uncover the stories and photos of those who served in WWI and WWII, and sharing his research findings with the public.   (See https://www.gg.ca/en/honours/recipients/342-116665)

In November 2017, Pieter and Daria were awarded the Senate of Canada 150 Medal for their contribution to the history of PEI in researching and telling the stories of the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion.

… Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this, 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 on the book, please see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw. 

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