Calvary Cross Cemetery Rillaar

At the cemetery of Rillaar, this calvary cross commemorates residents and soldiers who died during the First World War. After German scouts were ambushed and the Germans believed this to be the work of alleged Francs terrorists, the village was severely hit. 43 houses were torched on August 19 and several civilians were shot.
Lined up in rows along the monument, we see the graves of World War II veterans and resistance fighters of Rillaar. There are strikingly many for a village.

About the calvary cross
On November 11, 1926, the memorial monument was inaugurated with great interest at the cemetery of Rillaar. The festivities were described in detail in the weekly De Klok magazine of 20 November 1926. At the time the memorial is unveiled, the reporter writes the following about the monument: "One minute of moderation. ... bells ringing, bells ringing, cannons roaring, ... the curtain falls ..., and there the memorial rises before our eyes. ... a rough clump of bluestone with in its flanks in gilded letters the names of the Fallen Soldiers and Murdered Civilians ... a few inscriptions ... and above that with outstretched arms the Tree of Redemption, the Cross ... nothing more, simple, quiet, poor and poor ... but: alive, speaking, impressive, an art work for eyes that can see and souls that can feel ... '

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Source

• Text: Jan Rymenams
• Photos: Jan Rymenams