Event RAF ASSOCIATION BELGIAN BRANCH COMMEMORATION IN THE NATIONAL BASILICA - 28 SEP 13

Forwarded message From: VTB Secretary

INVITATION  -  UITNODIGING

On 25 June 2013 at 08:19 Dick Whittingham

Dear General De Brouwer,

The Belgian Branch of the Royal Air Forces Association is pleased to announce that a commemorative event will be held in the National Basilica of the Sacred Heart Koekelberg on Saturday 28 Sep 13 to which you and the members of the Vieilles Tiges de Belgique are most cordially invited.  The event will be led by our Honorary Co-President Air Marshal Sir Christopher Harper.

In 1988 the RAFA Belgian Branch raised over 1.5 Million BF from industry as well as from RAF and Belgian Air Force Squadrons, societies and individuals, to create, in an Air Force Chapel in the National Basilica, a stained-glass window memorial to those Belgians who in World War II lost their lives in the cause of freedom and liberty whilst serving in the Royal Air Force, and in the Escape Lines and as Secret Agents in Belgium.  The stained-glass windows were dedicated in September 1988 in a ceremony led by King Baudouin personally and including the British Ambassador to Belgium, the RAF Chief of the Air Staff and the Belgian Air Force Chief of Staff.   The Air Force Chapel now includes a permanently displayed illuminated Roll of Honour listing the names of those Belgians who died in the RAF in the War.

The event in September this year will mark the 25^th Anniversary of the dedication of the windows and will especially remember with grateful thanks all those Belgians who served with the RAF, as well as those of the Escape Lines who helped so many Allied airmen, and the Secret Agents whose activities were key to the success of the war effort.  We will also seek to remember and strengthen the links between RAF Squadrons and Belgium:  not only the many Squadrons in which Belgians served, but also those Squadrons who lost aircraft and crews in Belgium and who have therefore established permanent links with many towns and villages throughout the Country.  The format will be a simple RAF Ecumenical Service in the area of the Air Force Chapel, with the dedication and blessing of a new plaque in the Chapel followed by the traditional Acts of Remembrance.  The Service will be followed by a lunch in the Basilica.

We are particularly keen to give an opportunity for not only the remaining veterans themselves to attend, but also to make the event know to the families of those who died in the war and subsequently, both in service with the RAF and in support of the war effort in Belgium.  If you are in a position to pass on the event information to those in these categories then that would be most helpful. 

In our planning, we would be delighted if other groups to participate in the ceremony, for example by parading Standards or by the laying of a wreath.  If you would like to be involved in this, or any other, way, please let me know.

I enclose a 'poster' advertising the event which you may care to use with your members.  Please also check for updates on the Belgian Branch website http://rafabelgianbranch.yolasite.com/

We look forward to the participation of VTB members in this event which will vividly illustrate the strong historical connection between the RAF and Belgium which forms basis for our cooperation in today's equally challenging environment.

I am very happy to provide more information and/or to come and discuss with you personally if that would be helpful. 

Best regards

Dick Whittingham

Gp Capt (Retd)

Chairman RAFA Belgian Branch