Remembrance Day Service - Volkstrauertag
Sunday, November 19, 2023
2:30 p.m. at Woodland Cemetery
119 Arlington Blvd., Kitchener
PROGRAM
- Master of Ceremonies
Harry Drung, President GCRS - Invocation
Rev Rick Orlowski - Laying of wreaths by Consul General, representatives of the Federal, Provincial, Regional and Municipal Government, veterans and representatives of German Clubs and German Associations
- Zapfenstreich (tattoo), played by Ron Schatz, bugler
Should you or your organization wish to lay down a wreath please contact the German-Canadian Remembrance Society.
AFTER THE SERVICE
Please join us for Kaffeeklatsch. Location for 2023 will be posted later this year.
LINKS & DOWNLOADS
FACEBOOK LIVE - Video of 2022 Event (Or, see Facebook feed below)
2 ANNUAL EVENTS
German Pioneers Day ~ October
Celebrated in Kitchener, Ontario, after Thanksgiving
Volkstrauertag ~ November
Remembrance Day Ceremony is held at Woodland Cemetery, Kitchener
German Pioneers Day
This public celebration was designed to recognize achievements of German families, people, organizations, businesses and festivals who have made valuable contributions to their communities. Initially, GCRS worked together with the Arbeitsgemeinschaft under the leadership of Gerhard Griebenow. German Pioneers Day Act, Bill 28 was passed in 1999. The Bill proclaims that in Canada the day after Thanksgiving Day in each year as German Pioneers Day. All are welcome. The ceremony takes place inside Kitchener City Hall Rotunda. The official program includes:
- Music by Transylvania Brass Band & Concordia Children's Choir (under the direction of Angelika Werner)
- Exhibits from various German Clubs and organizations
- Dignitaries from Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Canada
In 2016 Transylvania Club, Ahrens Family and City of Waterloo were recognized.
In 2017 Rumpel Family, Alpine Club and Joseph Mausser were recognized.
In 2018
In 2019 Jakob Ritz Printing, Petsche Shoes (founded in 1954), Christkindl Market (founded in 1997), and Ken Seiling were recognized.
(Read the 2019 Program)
In 2020 The event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Volkstauertag - Remembrance Day
Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 2:30 p.m.
Woodland Cemetery, 119 Arlington Blvd., Kitchener
This public event is a state memorial celebrated each year since 1952. It is one of Germany’s “silent days” to remember their fallen soldiers and victims of tyranny of all nations. The memorial ceremony is held at Woodland Cemetery on the Sunday following Remembrance Day at 2:30 pm. Immediately following the memorial, members are invited to a German Club for coffee and cake (alternating clubs from year to year: Alpine, Concordia, German Candian Hunting & Fishing, Schwaben and Transylvania).
"These are men who risked their lives, serving their country," said Thomas Schultze, consul general of the German government. He asked that people think about solidarity, courage, and hope.
"Never again. Our duty is to live up to this promise."
“We must nurture the hope that one day, peace will prevail.”
Werner Schlueter, past president of the German-Canadian Remembrance Society
The annual ceremony is always about more than the Germans who perished.
Photo: echoworld.com
