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September 18
Prepared by James Stoness with
the Bronze Plaque Tour in Brugge
Today, members and families of the SAR (South Alberta Armoured
Regiment) visited several Belgian towns which they had liberated
in 1944. Citizens turned out in great numbers to show the love
and respect they hold for the Canadians. Large groups of young
school children waved Canadian flags and cheered as the veterans
dismounted from their bus and later presented each of them with
red and white long-stemmed roses.
 At
Eeklo, Maldegem, and Zomergem, veterans unveiled SAR bronze
plaques amidst moving ceremonies. There is no way to adequately
describe the open-heartedness of the Belgian people who welcomed
the veterans of the SAR with bands, the pealing of church bells,
and a military fly-over.
The veterans placed a wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice in the
Canadian War Cemetery at Adegem. This wreath joined 92 others
placed there earlier by citizens on the second Sunday in September
during an annual ceremony at which local Belgians meet to honour
the fallen Canadians. To quote Major Danny McLeod, "These boys
are not truly dead until they are forgotten, and the Belgian
people have not allowed this to happen."
After viewing today's ceremonies there can be no doubt in anyone's
mind that the Belgian people do remember. It is unfortunate
that we do not see the same outpouring of remembrance from the
Canadian people for surely the timely intervention of our troops
saved the Canadian people from a similar fate had Hitler not
been opposed.
The veterans were extremely fortunate to have military historian
George Spittael with them pointing out where various actions
had taken place.
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