Last Thursday in New York and this Monday in Washington, D.C., the Delegation of Flanders held its annual Memorial Day Ceremony, honoring the brave soldiers and veterans who sacrificed their lives in the fields of Flanders during WWI for our freedom. 📍🗽In New York, we gathered at Dewitt Clinton Park for a ceremony led by Laurence Bielen, Policy Advisor at the Delegation of Flanders, featuring speeches from: 🎙 Paul Hegge, General Representative of Flanders to the USA 🎙 Jonathan Kuhn, Director of Art & Antiquities at the NYC Parks Department 🎙 Edward Mermelstein, Commissioner for International Affairs at the NYC Mayor’s Office 🎙 Glenda Villareal, Deputy Commissioner of the NYC Department of Veterans’ Services 🎙 Mark Otto, President of the United War Veterans Council 🎙 Pieter Trogh, Researcher at the In Flanders Fields Museum The event concluded with a reading of In Flanders Fields by our intern Esther at the Delegation of Flanders, followed by a wreath-laying and a moving rendition of TAPS and the Last Post by Kevin Paul of the East Coast Doughboys. 📍🏛️In Washington, D.C., we debuted our first Memorial Day Ceremony at the Argonne Cross in Arlington Cemetery, where we were welcomed by Jari Villanueva, President of the Doughboy Foundation. The ceremony featured remarks from: 🎙️Ambassador Frédéric Bernard, Belgian Ambassador to the USA 🎙️Paul Hegge, General Representative of Flanders to the USA The commemoration concluded with Traditional Taps at the WWI National Memorial, followed by a wreath-laying as the Last Post and TAPS were sounded. Following the commemoration, we continued with a reception and keynote exploring The Stories of the American Presence in Flanders Fields During the Great War at the Willard Office Space with presentations by 🎙️Pieter Trogh, Researcher, In Flanders Fields Museum 🎙️Karen Derycke, Researcher, In Flanders Fields Museum and 🎙️Marco Frank, Trade Manager, Visit Flanders Through these moments of remembrance, we honor those who fought for our freedom, ensuring their legacy endures. Lest we forget🌹 #memorialday #nyc #washington #flandersfields #WWI (fb)

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