On 4 May at the corner of Willem Ruyslaan and Oude Dijk at the Stone of a Million Tears, the monument on Hoflaan and the monument on Jan Vermeersingel, you can commemorate the victims of the Second World War, as well as wars and peace missions since.
Giving back to society
The commemoration at these locations is being organized by Stichting BeSt, Rotterdam Women’s Student Association’s (R.V.S.V.) good causes organization, and Rotterdam Student Society (RSC). This was requested by the Municipality of Rotterdam, explained Sophie de Vries Robbé, President of R.V.S.V. “Last year an event agency organized the commemoration, but cutbacks at the municipality meant that they had to search for another solution. We had no problem saying yes. This is exactly what we had in mind with Stichting BeSt; giving something back to society.”
Two-minute silence
The ceremony will be almost the same at all three locations, explained Anne-Merel Tolsma, one of the organisers. Tolsma explained the programme: “The ceremonies will start with music at 7.30 pm, followed by veterans talking from their own experience”. “The scouts will help lay wreaths. One of the children from the scouts will also recite the 4 May poem.” After a two-minute silence, the various neighborhood associations will lay a wreath at the monument.
Stichting BeSt’s organisation of Remembrance Day is one of the many examples of how EUR students can give something back to society. We have listed most of the student voluntary activities in our special dossier Charity on campus.
