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Ceremony speech Ed van Lierde
SLAMAT COMMEMORATION CEREMONY SPEECH ED VAN LIERDE, FOUNDER OF THE ROYAL ROTTERDAM MUSEUM
Your Excellency , Ladies and Gentleman, In my opening speech I spoke about the possibility that dwelling upon a disaster with all its terrible consequences could mean a possible next step in the proces of being able to coop with it. I hope with all of my heart that this commemoration, on this beautiful spot, will contribute to that. Now it is time for the ceremony itself. A ceremony in which we honour all the Slamat victims who died for freedom, no matter nationality or rank! The flags of Australia, Great Brittan, New Zealand and the Netherlands are half-mast high. Behind the flag poles you see four family members of the Slamat victims. On the table hidden under a big Royal Rotterdam Lloyd flag in a few minutes a beautiful model of the Slamat and a memory plaque from the Maritime Museum of Rotterdam. The Slamat model will be unveiled by taking away the Royal Rotterdam Lloyd flag and together with that the memory plaque of the Slamat will appear. Before the two minutes of silence I would like to ask the New Zealand Ambassador to read out some words of a New Zealand daughter, Ms Mary Saxton. – Now Captain Welter would like to say a few words……… ************************************************** Excellency , Ladies and gentleman ……. I would like to toast with you all on a positive effect of this meeting on the coping proces of the family members. Now I would like to ask the family members to pass by the flags and the SLAMAT model and the memory plaque. After them the special guests and the rest of our guests, please. Thank you………
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