Speech by Søren Pape Poulsen on 25 May 2013 at the Memorial stone to 7 airmen of LAN R5679 På dansk Updated: 14 JUN 2013

 

Mayor Søren Pape Poulsen, the Municipality of Viborg, delivered a short speech as requested.        

On a day like this it is hard to imagine that dramatic events took place in this area more than 70 years ago.

On a day like today history becomes so vivid and close that you nearly sense it. Feel the intensity, the excitement and the fear that is part of the war.

I and my generation have had the privilege never to experience World War 2.

That is why to us war easily becomes

                      something very remote

                      something we watch on TV

                      something that solely happens outside the frontiers of this country

but that is why it is so important that we have people who take care that we remember, as we do here today. That we keep the story that was written, when
seven airmen were shot down over Havredal. Seven men perished - and today we emphasize that they did not die in vain. They did not fall into oblivion but
they died in the battle for a free Europe.

On behalf of the Town Council of Viborg I thank the originators of the project that with this memorial stone at Grønhøj Kro we have an occasion to remember
- and not take our freedom for granted.

Thank you.