At the Roll of Honour of the Fallen in the building of the House of Representatives, the annual commemoration of war victims took place on Sunday, May 4. Speaker of the House Martin Bosma and former Speaker Wim Deetman delivered speeches. Wreaths were then laid at this national monument.
We are here today to remember the names. The names of our heroes who are on the Roll of Honour. The people who contributed to the victory, said Speaker Bosma during the ceremony in the Statenpassage, the central hall of the building. The Speaker called attention in his speech to the story of the Dutch merchant navy. The men who fought at sea for our freedom while our country was occupied.
Poems and Wreath Laying
After the speeches, students from the Johan de Witt Scholengroep in The Hague recited poems, followed by turning a page of the External link:Roll of Honour of the Fallen. Then the Speaker, together with Jan Anthonie Bruijn, Chairman of the Senate, laid a wreath on behalf of the States General. Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Secretary of State Vincent Karremans laid a wreath on behalf of the Council of Ministers. There was also a wreath from the Johan de Witt Scholengroep. The ceremony concluded with a minute of silence.
Roll of Honour of the Fallen
The Roll of Honour contains the last names and first names, place and date of birth, occupation or military rank, place and date of death or passing for almost 18,000 fallen soldiers. Since 1960, a page of the Roll of Honour has been turned every day. The Roll of Honour has been supplemented in later years in collaboration with the NIOD and was fully digitized in 2010. At the commemoration, family members of individuals listed on the Roll of Honour were also present this year.
Looking Back and Reading More
- Read the speech by Speaker Martin Bosma.
- You can External link:watch the May 4 commemoration via Debate Direct.
Commemoration at the Dam
The Speaker will be present in the evening of May 4 at the National Remembrance Day at the Dam in Amsterdam. There, he will also lay a wreath together with the Chairman of the Senate on behalf of the States General. View External link:the program of the National Remembrance Day.