Invitation
Dear Sir or Madam,
We are pleased to invite you to the Commemoration Day on Saturday, 20 June 2026, in Raalte and Schoonheten, the Netherlands.
On this day, we commemorate the aircraft crash of 20 June 1942 involving an aircraft of No. 305 (Polish) Squadron RAF, in which four crew members lost their lives. We honour their sacrifice and reflect on the special bond between Poland and the Netherlands that arose from these events.
Organised in cooperation with the Polish Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in the Netherlands, the Polish Parish of the Archdiocese of Utrecht, and the Polish Armed Forces, this commemoration will also include the unveiling of a memorial plaque in Schoonheten by relatives of the crew.
Programme – Saturday, 20 June 2026 (subject to change)
09:00 – General Cemetery, Raalte
Optional visit and two minutes of silence in memory of the 47 Allied airmen buried there. Attendance at your own discretion. No official ceremony.
10:00 – Reception at Raalte Town Hall
Welcome by Mayor Zuidema, presentation of the commemorative book by Krzysztof Kowalkowski, and a contribution by the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN).
11:00 – Memorial Service (Eucharistic Celebration)
Basilica of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Raalte. Led by Pastor Bulthuis and Pastor Klim, with musical accompaniment by the choir of the Polish Parish.
12:00 – Lunch
13:30 – Ceremony and Unveiling of the Memorial Plaque, Schoonheten
In cooperation with the Polish Armed Forces. Highlights include the unveiling of the plaque by relatives of the fallen airmen, a speech by Wim Hogeland, whose mother witnessed the crash, a flypast by the Royal Netherlands Air Force Historic Flight, and addresses by representatives of the Municipality of Raalte, the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), and invited guests.
Locations
Town Hall – Zwolsestraat 16, Raalte
Basilica – Kerkstraat 6, Raalte
Memorial Site – Speelmansweg 8, Heeten (Schoonheten)
General Cemetery – Westdorplaan 134, Raalte
For more information: info@raaltevoorvrijheid.nl
Please Confirm Your Attendance
Please register via https://tinyurl.com/raalteform or by emailing info@raaltevoorvrijheid.nl.
Yours sincerely,
Stichting Raalte voor Vrijheid
info@raaltevoorvrijheid.nl