Trisha Cornforth, German news reporter for "Der Kanadier" newspaper as well as for CFN/RFC radio and television, from the end of 1978 to the end of May 1994 The original "Der Kanadier " was the weekly newspaper for the Canadian Forces stationed in Europe. It was published in Lahr in the Black Forest, Germany, from 1 July 1970 until 25 May 1994 i.e. until just before Canadian Forces Base Lahr closed down in mid-August 1994.

New CFE Canadian memorial dedicated in Lahr

Part of the children's section of Lahr's hillside cemetery (Bergfriedhof) has now been transformed into a permanent "Canadian Corner" through a project initiated and financed by the Department of National Defence Canada. Many of the families involved (who had not had been able to visit the graves for such a long time) were flown over from Canada for the dedication ceremonies officiated by the Chaplain General, Commodore (The Venerable) Timothy Maindonald and Colonel (Reverend) Ronald Bourque, Principal Chaplain (RC).

Positive emotional experience, revived memories and source of solace
On Friday 8 November relatives of the deceased attended the private reburial ceremonies which they described as a positive emotional experience that revived painful memories but brought deep consolation, touching the hearts of all involved.
On Saturday 9 November, Branch 002 of the Royal Canadian Legion in Lahr provided the colour party for the official dedication ceremonies. They were attended by many members of the local community as well as by the Canadian Ambassador to Germany, Her Excellency Marie Meunier-Bernard, who flew from Berlin on this occasion for her first official visit to Lahr. Both her speech and that of Mayor Wolfgang G. Müller emphasized the strong personal ties between Lahr and Canada and the permanent character of the memorial as a symbol of good German-Canadian relations. Together they unveiled and placed flowers at the new Canadian granite cairn inscribed with the names of all those without an individual stone marker. BGen Steve Irwin, Director General Construction and Property Services, spoke on behalf of DND HQ Ottawa , praising the project team for their personal contribution and tremendous effort.
A reception followed at Vetter's Stube (former Europahof dining room) on Lahr airfield. This allowed all concerned to renew old friendships, make new acquaintances and find out how things have changed in Lahr. It also provided an opportunity for both sides to openly express gratitude to the organizers for unique personal enrichment.

We shall remember them ... for photos (before and after), click on

CFE memorials perpetuate Canadian connections
Designated Canadian sections have now been laid out in the local cemeteries of communities where members of Canadian Forces Europe and their dependants lived and died - in St. Avold, Lelling and Bistroff (France) as well as in Baden-Soellingen, Zweibrücken and Lahr (Germany). More will follow next year in the province of Nordrhein-Westfalen. For background information on the special DND project group under the leadership of Fran McBride, click on our Editorial for May 2002.

Also on behalf of our volunteers Gabrielle, Marie-Hélène, Ivan and Klaus
(see Contacts), kind regards from Trisha Cornforth