President's Message 

From the address by Harry Drung, President of the German-Canadian Remembrance Society and Master of Ceremonies, at Volkstrauertag, German National Day of Remembrance, held on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener, Ontario.

“Soldatengräber sind die gröβten Prediger des Friedens.” 
“Soldiers’ graves are the greatest preachers of peace.”

So simple, so poignant, so powerful, this quote is attributed to Albert Schweitzer, theologian, medical doctor, humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Liebe Landsleute,
Dear friends, colleagues, representatives of various levels of government, veterans’ organizations and German-Canadian organizations,

Welcome to this year’s Volkstrauertag ceremony which coincides with the Day of Remembrance held in Germany. My name is Harry Drung, and I am with the Cooperative Council of German Clubs of Waterloo Region and the German-Canadian Remembrance Society. I have been asked to serve as Master of Ceremonies this day, for which I feel honoured.

I would like to thank:

• Concordia Choirs
• Transylvania Hofbrau Band
• Ron Schatz & Karl Wolf, the buglers
• Andrew Hutfluss, the Piper (for the first time) 
• All those that contributed to today’s program including
  Kristina Thony, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, Toronto
• All those involved in the set up as well as preparing the grave decorations 

We also acknowledge the generous financial contribution of the Schiller Foundation which helps to fund the costs associated with organizing this event.

The mortal remains of 187 German POW’s and internees from the First and Second World Wars were reinterred here in 1971 as their final resting place from 36 locations across Canada. We can be certain that they died with dignity in peaceful circumstances after having received the best care possible at the time, unlike their comrades who died instantly on the battlefield in various theaters of conflict, or later succumbed to their injuries. 

Today, as we should every day, we remember those who volunteered, sacrificed, served, fought, and died for our freedom. We thank, salute and honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We must not also forget those civilians, especially women, children and the elderly who lost their lives in armed conflicts through no fault of their own. While every year we hope and pray that wars and armed conflicts over the world will stop, we again find ourselves witnessing a tragic expanded conflict in the Middle East as well as the Ukraine. We can only hope and pray that these conflicts will be ended as soon as humanly possible with the least amount of casualties.

- Harry Drung, President, German-Canadian Remembrance Society