On Saturday morning, Sietse Smit, Fire Department Care team leader, and Groningen Fire Department commander, John Bos, laid a flower arrangement at the war memorial on the Sontweg.
Every year on the morning of May 4, the Groningen Fire Department commemorates the death of seven men. They were closely involved in the fire brigade in Groningen in the period 1940-1945. And they died as a result of war.
“Freedom cannot be taken for granted”
Sietse Smit: “It has been almost eighty years since the war ended here. For us, freedom seems self-evident. But I think we see all around us – every day – that this is not self-evident. That is why it is important to commemorate here on this day and at this moment the people who died during the war. In this case, seven men, all seven of whom had a connection in one way or another with the fire brigade in Groningen.”
To our fallen comrades
In addition to laying a flower arrangement at the war memorial next to the barracks a minute’s silence was held in memory of ‘our fallen comrades’: Jan Duursma, Gijsbert Noorbergen, Leendert M. van Noppen, Johannes Sterk, Jan de Vries, Jelte Zuiderhoek and Ares G. Dijkstra. This year the commemoration was again attended by the relatives of Leendert M. van Noppen.
Remembrance Day in the city of Groningen
As in previous years, a number of fire brigade colleagues will participate in the traditional silent procession in the city of Groningen. This tour goes from the Jewish monument on Hereweg to the Martini Church, where the national Remembrance Day takes place at 8 p.m.
Also read: Groningen Fire Department commemorates war victims: the special story of Leendert M. van Noppen.
