Today, the
first day of March is also the first Sunday of Lent.
75 years ago,
WWII ended, a historical event that will be remembered in various ways
throughout this year. Films, tv and radio programmes, interviews, photo’s, they
all remind us of the madness of war and the joy of our liberation, as well as
the fact that at least in this country we have been able to live in peace for
the past 75 years, since that time. Not every European country can say that.
Sadly, just
before the end of the war, on March 3rd 1945, a large and densely
populated residential area of The Hague was bombed by mistake, by our Allies. Many
innocent civilians lost their lives. For many years now this is memorized in a
joint service of the Protestant, the Roman Catholic and the Anglican church. Each
of them lost their church building here. After the bombardment of Rotterdam,
where the heart of the city was destroyed and so many people lost their lives,
this was the worst loss of innocent civilians. Like Rotterdam, the area has been
rebuilt. A few years ago, information panels were placed throughout this part
of The Hague to inform people of what happened and keep the memory alive for
the next generation. Only a few people who lived through this dreadful ordeal
are still alive to tell us what happened.
Our church choir
joined the choir of the Roman Catholic church and together we sang some anthems
and parts of the liturgy. There were a few survivors present in the service,
but as one can imagine each year their number has declined. Some pupils of a
large grammar school in this neighbourhood had written poems about this dramatic
historical event and about the nightmare of war, but also about hope and peace.
A young student read her own poem. Thus, we keep awareness alive, of what war
can do, and we hope it helps us to strive for peace.
The cross
of nails, a silver replica of the cross of nails in Coventry, was handed over
from our church to the protestant church where it will stand on the altar for a
year.
The English
city of Coventry was also bombed and its heart totally destroyed. In the ruins
of the burnt down cathedral, they found big nails from the roof beams which had
survived intact. These nails were arranged in the form of a cross. This became
a symbol of the reconciliation and striving for peace. Today there is a Community of the Cross of Nails.
It is a worldwide network of over 200 churches, charities,
peace-building centres, and educational and training
organisations, inspired by the Coventry story of destruction,
rebuilding and renewal, and active in reconciliation in their own ways. The
Hague is part of this Community, as is Dresden, which was also destroyed
deliberately and cost so many people their lives.
In February 2015 I sang in Coventry
with the European Cathedral Singers in a special commemoration service.
Meanwhile the bishop of Coventry Cathedral was in Dresden preaching there in a
commemorative service of Peace.
In is world where so many wars rage
all over the globe and refugees are living in dismal circumstances with hardly
any hope of a better life in safety and peace, praying for peace is more
necessary than ever.
See also my blogpost “Coventry”
of February 2015
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