More than 1,500 people came to Leusden yesterday to commemorate the end of the Second World War in the former Soviet Union. Throughout the day, this resulted in an ever-growing mountain of flowers and wreaths.
Representatives of the embassies of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Belarus, as well as of Armenian and Azerbaijani communities in the Netherlands, laid a wreath or floral arrangement. There were also flowers from the Embassy of Ukraine and wreaths from the municipalities of Leusden and Amersfoort, the Province of Utrecht, the War Graves Foundation, and National Monument Camp Amersfoort.
Remco Reiding laid a wreath on behalf of the Soviet War Cemetery Foundation. The Embassy of Uzbekistan had already made an appearance on May 3.
After the official ceremony, many individual visitors came to the War Cemetery and the nearby Soviet War Cemetery Experience. Our staff and volunteers were present throughout the day to welcome visitors, answer questions, and assist with locating graves. For many people, it was a personal and meaningful visit.
Appreciation was expressed from various quarters for the way the War Cemetery is not forgotten, for the photos at the graves that give the dead a face, and for the work of the foundation. Especially on days like this, it becomes clear how important it is that these stories remain visible.
