Photos: Peter Emil Jensen  (See also Photos before the unveiling)         Verner Sørensen             Aase Kjems     Jan Kruse           Kjeld Andreasen

At the unveiling of the memorial stone on 21 April 2012 Aase Kjems made this speech:

"I think that Verner should have come forward here, as he foots the bill, but he refused. One thing is to have an idea, another to bring it into being.

Actually I had given it up due to lack of interest - it was too expensive. Then at a party I sat next to Verner and we had to talk about something, so I told him
about my idea that was too expensive to carry out - but he would deal with that side of the matter, and then it appeared that Kjeld Andreasen and Jan Kruse
would take care of the practical matters and then the plan nevertheless succeeded!

You might ask why. I can only speak for myself. First of pure historical significance. From my time at school I know that the best the children knew was when
I told them about "the old days" as they said. Then when I was able to show them the places where it had happened, it became more present to them.

Another reason is that the 7 young men to me represent all of the millions of people who put their lives at risk to liberate not only us, but nearly all of Europe
from Hitler's terrible regime. Actually it was not until after the war we really realized the horrors of the concentration camps. Millions of Jews, disabled people
and others were killed in bestial ways! Without help from the Allies, the USA and Great Britain we had not regained our freedom.

And then of course there is the fact that my husband and I experienced the crash at close range. We were newly married and had just moved into the house
in the dunes. We called it The Dune Cottage and I am still living there. Then we had our bedroom on the first floor and a big window and a balcony to the west.

At midnight we were awakened by the sliding howl of the air raid warning siren. When the alarm was turned off, it was with one long sound.

Shots and a lot of noise from aircraft were heard and the search lights were sweeping the sky. We were used to hearing the big bombers, when they from their
base in England passed right over us heading for the towns in northern Germany, Stettin, Peenemünde and other targets with their bombloads. To avoid being
hit by flak they flew very high, so only a faint drone was heard. On the outward flight they flew together. On the return flight they were more scattered.

However, very often and also this time German night fighters, Messerschmitts, went up to shoot them down, and then there was a proper aerial battle with bullets
both up and down, and then it was dangerous to be outside. That is why Marie Vulf was killed on 5 April. They lived opposite the school.

We were also so incautious to go to the balcony and then we saw that one of the big bombers had been hit and that the pilot was heading down. We saw him clearly,
but all of the plane had caught fire and with a trail of fire like from a rocket it slanted close to us and to this place. I shall never forget the sight, as we realized that
they could not survive that. 6 airmen died on the spot and the 7th at the hospital that night. (See a Lancaster with crew members.)

Actually it was an expensive night. 19 planes were shot down, most of them here in West Jutland.

I think it is so appropriate that the inscription of the stone says: They died that we could be free."

(Actually: They fought and died for our freedom)