We would like to cordially invite schoolchildren (with their parents and/or grandmothers and grandfathers), veterans and other interested parties, to place a candle in front of a soldier’s grave at the Mierlo War Cemetery and to stand still for a moment to commemorate these men.

We will place the candles on December 24, 2023 at 4.30 pm at the graves of those who fought for the freedoms that we currently have and cherish.
79 years of Freedom we were given back our freedom; that seems like a long time ago, but what we now see in Ukraine and the Gaza- Strip also tells us that freedom hangs on a thin line. Freedom is really not to be taken for granted anymore.

In the last year, and now again in recent weeks, the violence of war has increased in this world again. Unfortunately, too many people have become victims.

The Bolsius candles have been purchased centrally and will be ready at the British war cemetery on Geldropseweg 68 Mierlo; these will burn for about 40-50 hours.

All donations for the candles are very welcome and greatly appreciated. You can make a donation to ING rack NL40 INGB 0000167498 tnv LJ van den Berg ovv Lichtjes Mierlo 2023.

You are most welcome on Sunday the 24th of December 2023

Program:

• 16.30 Welcome,
• A veteran and his two children will symbolically light and place the first candles.
• Music is played by a musician from the Gemert Firebrigade Pipes & Drums
• candles will then be distributed and placed in front of the graves.

We kindly ask you to come as much as possible by bike or public transport due to a lack of parking spaces if you do come by car, follow the instructions of the traffic controllers. This is to avoid nuisance from incorrectly parked vehicles.

On Christmas Eve Saturday, December 24, 2022, at 4:30 PM, 665 candles will be placed at the graves of the soldiers at the War Cemetery at Geldropseweg 68 in Mierlo.

The history of Geldrop-Mierlo and the surrounding villages is strongly linked to the events of the Second World War. In the Netherlands, this initiative has been taken to commemorate these young men who brought us freedom; to give them the warmth of the light and to show our memory and gratitude.

This cemetery offers the final resting place to 665 soldiers who were reburied on site after the end of the Second World War. These young men gave their lives more than 78 years ago so that we can still celebrate Christmas in peace with family and friends. That deserves respect and appreciation.

We would very much like to invite schoolchildren (with their parents or grandmothers and grandfathers), veterans and other interested parties, to place a burning candle in front of a headstone and to take a moment to remember the deceased soldier and also the freedom we now have, thanks to these young men. The candles have been purchased centrally and will be ready at the Mierlo War Cemetery.

These candles will burn for approximately 48 hours.

Donations for the candles are very welcome and can be transferred to ING account: NL40 INGB 0000 167498 tnv. HR LJ van den Berg, attn: “candles/lights Mierlo”.

You are most welcome on Saturday December 24th at 4.30 pm.
We kindly ask you to come by bicycle due to a shortage of car parking and to follow the instructions of the traffic controllers.
If you still decide to come by car, we ask you to park in the parking lot at the Wolfsven. This is to prevent nuisance from incorrectly parked cars on the Geldropseweg.

Lights on war graves Mierlo takes place, since 2019, on Christmas Eve, December 24.

The intention was again this year, together with the veterans, children and their parents and grandfathers and grandmothers, to place 665 Lights at the graves of those who lost their lives for our freedom.

Unfortunately, we have to deviate from the desired program again this year, just like last year, due to the current corona rules

Candles will be placed on Friday afternoon 24-12-2021 by the organization and some veterans. Due to the corona measures, this is unfortunately not public. The candles will then burn again for 48 hours in honor of the soldiers who died for our freedom. It won’t stay dark for our heroes this Christmas Eve.

If you wish to visit the British Field of Honor, you must adhere to the corona safety measures in force at that time.
If you would like to make a voluntary donation, these are very welcome, We are very grateful to you for this.

T.n.v, LJ van den Berg NL40 INGB 0000 1674 98 with reference to donation Lights

We at Lichtjes Op Oorlogsgraven Mierlo are sorry that we cannot organize the same candle lighting ceremony as last year, this year  on December 24, 2020, due to the coronavirus.  Although this initiative is intended for children and their adults, we feel it would be too irresponsible for us all to be together with so many visitors. It pains us to have to make this decision and it was not made lightly.

 Of course we will still place candles at every grave, but all this must happen this year without the public in attendance.

After 5.30 pm and Christmas Day and Boxing Day you are welcome view the candles, which burn for approximately 48 hours, at the British Honorary Cemetery Mierlo, all this is entirely at your own risk.

We advise and hope that everyone strictly follows the applicable corona measures.

We as Lichtjes Op Oorlogsgraven Mierlo hope for your understanding and wish you good health in these difficult times.

We also wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Donations / Gifts to pay for the candles are still very welcome.

We are of course very grateful to everyone for this.

Transfer via the Bank ING IBAN NL40 INGB0000167498 attn. L.J. van den Berg o.v.v. Lights on War Graves Mierlo.

On Tuesday, December 24, 2019, 665 candles were placed at 4.30 pm at the graves of the soldiers at the British Military Cemetery of Honor on Geldropseweg in Mierlo.

We wanted to connect Christmas and peace at the Military Cemetery with the parents and youth of Geldrop-Mierlo.

After all, the history of the surrounding villages of Geldrop-Mierlo is strongly linked to the events of the Second World War. We have invited the school children along with their parents or grandmothers and grandfathers to make sure that a candle is lit at every tombstone on Christmas Eve December 24.)

Founded in the spring of 1945, the cemetery contains hundreds of mostly young soldiers. These young men gave their lives over 75 years ago so that we can now celebrate Christmas in peace with family and friends.

The young men buried here had never been here before the war. But through their sacrifice, liberation brought us freedom. That deserves respect and appreciation.

This special day is therefore meant to keep the memory of them alive. A feast of light and memory. That is why this initiative has been happening throughout the Netherlands to commemorate these young men who have brought us freedom, and to make them feel the warmth of the light and to show our memory and gratitude.

The candles are bought centrally and were already ready in the cemetery.

Any donations for the candles were very much appreciated.