A tradition of placing candles on war memorials in Holland on Christmas Eve is set to be replicated in Warrington.
Local resident Margaret Shaw, whose late father’s ashes are interred in Oosterbeek war cemetery at Arnhem, is helping organise a candle lit vigil at the Cenotaph on Bridgefoot.
She is being supported by local campaigner Julie Francis, who has successfully campaigned for improvements to the memorial on Bridgefoot.
Margaret decided to organise the vigil following an appeal on spocial media from Holland by Roland Boekhorst.
He said: “In the Netherlands we place candles at Christmas eve to remember the fallen Men and Woman in the war’s from the past. We did this last year with more than 100 cemeteries. I would like to ask if you wherever you may be in the World could you do the same, and place a candle on a wargrave at 19 hrs on Christmas Eve.”
Margaret said: “Sadly, it was too short notice to get any VIP’s or military/veterans involved, but Councillors Hans and Karen Mundry have pledged to be with us at the Cenotaph on Christmas Eve.
“Lighting a candle doesn’t have to be at the Bridgefoot Cenotaph, but any war memorial I.e. in Thelwall, Lymm or Woolston – in fact anywhere there is a war memorial.”
Once they are lit Roland Boekhorst will mark them on a map of the world.
2 Comments
What a lovely idea. I will place a candle at both the Walton and Stockton Heath Cenotaph sites on xmas eve and I hope other people will too. Respect to all who gave their lives for us, RIP brave men and women.
Thankyou! Will you take a picture and post it on here or Facebook please?