The commemoration
of 15 June 1947

Together with his wife Anna (left) and Mrs. le Clément de Saint-Marcq ambassador Victor Doré
steps into the Canadian Cemetery.  As you can see, it rained steadily.

The preparations for the second Canada Day got under way in March 1947, the first to be organized by the Belgium-Canada Association.  Where the commemoration of 1946 was more a provincial affair they now wanted a national event.  That is why plenty of "national" VIPs were invited.

The new Canadian ambassador, Mr. Victor Doré, was to lay the first stone of a chapel that would be big enough for approximately 60 persons and wide enough to allow for open air Masses.  Mrs le Clément de Saint-Marcq had thought up another initiative that she wanted to realize in 1947: the erection in the Canadian Cemetery of an altar with a cross that lights up.  The president already had distributed printed subscription lists for people to put their name down for a contribution.  The cross could never be because the Cross of Sacrifice must be the same in all other cemeteries.

Weeks before the school girls were already busy making more than 800 laurel wreaths.

Mrs le Clément de Saint-Marcq put out once again a circular letter that as usual was taken up by the newspapers and weeklies.  It is immediately clear from the text that they aimed much higher than the previous year: "The Army, the F.N.C., the Resistance Union, and the A.S. assist in the realization of this ceremony.  Civil and military authorities, patriotic associations, War Veterans and members of the Resistance and the schools of the country planned to send a delegation.  Once again the Belgian women and girls were called upon for their presence in great numbers.

In spite of the terrible weather -Totally failed because of the rain, wrote constable Notteboom at the bottom of his copy of the circular - a lot of people had come and around 10 o'clock after flowers had been laid for the fallen Belgians in the communal cemetery the town center got quite crowded.  In the mean time the town council and the aldermen received the important guests in the town hall while a parade of several kilometers formed and set off for the Canadian Cemetery in the pouring rain.

A chaplain says a prayer over the "first stone of the new cemetery" which had just been laid by Ambassador Doré.

When the official guests arrived in the Cemetery at 11 o'clock the showers followed each other so closely that everything got out of hand.  Instead of a sung Mass Van Damme, the village priest hurriedly said mass without a contribution by the St.-Gregorius Choir. Only the Boys' Choir of the Brothers of Charity succeeded in singing a psalm or two. During the Consecration the Last Post was played and the service men present loosed off a volley or two. Even while Mass was being said the wreaths were laid at the foot of the Cross of Sacrifice and the ceremony ended with the benediction of the priest. They soon broke into "Oh Canada!", Ambassador Doré quickly laid the first stone of what would later become the definitive cemetery and everyone was in a great hurry to leave.  Nothing came of the laying of the laurel wreaths: "It is difficult for adults to stand in such weather, for children it is unbearable", someone wrote with some justification.

When it was all over it was suggested in various quarters to thoroughly change the course of the commemoration ceremony.  It was suggested to have the religious service in the Adegem church and to march to the Canadian Cemetery only after this.  The "Tribute by the Children" also had to be revised and it was suggested to implicate only the children of the schools of Adegem.

"It is very sad that for the second time already this uniquely beautiful ceremony has been upset by such bad weather.  Of course nothing can be done about that.  And in any case everyone has done what he could to express his gratitude to these heroes.  May God give eternal rest to those who fell so we might be liberated and free".  This was written by H. in a very nice report that appeared in the "Eeclonaer" of 22 June 1947. "Vrij Maldegem" (Free Maldegem) also of 22 June spent only a few lines on the Canada Day: "The pouring rain was the great spoilsport but because of the presence of some mothers, fiancees and relatives of the fallen heroes this tribute was still very moving."

A whole delegation of veterans, deportees etc. from Watervliet was also present.  There too several Canadians were killed in action.  Their report of the commemoration was the most beautiful and the most humane we ever read about this postwar period:

Those from Watervliet who went really had no luck.  The sun wouldn't shine and grey clouds full of rain swept across the sky when we left by car from Watervliet around 9 o'clock in the morning.  We will soon be in Adegem.  In piety their sacrifice will be remembered: not only these boys from Canada who left their country, to fall so far from home, from father and mother, from wife or fiancee.  We also remember all those who fought valiantly, battled heroically and died for a more beautiful world where there is room for freedom, peace and justice.  All suffering and death, all blood and bitter tears will not have been in vain if we who remained behind and who will soon return to our towns, will execute the testament they left us: to bring about tranquility, peace and unity by magnanimity and charity; to bring justice by fighting against injustice, lies and falshood and finally to grant to others the freedom we wish for ourselves. Then chasms can be bridged and tranquility, peace and liberty will return to even the smallest of our villages.  And then, at peace with our conscience and rightly proud, we will be able to render account for our actions when at last the light goes out for us as well..."