Monument 'The Wing'

Operation Market Garden stranded in the Betuwe in late September 1944. The front stiffened along the river Linge. Sudden shellfire and sniper fire made soldiers' lives difficult.

Autumn rains also caused flooding. The foxholes flooded. From early December, things got even worse when German troops blew up the Rijndijk near Elden. Much of the Betuwe flooded. The No Man's Land became a 'No Man's Water'.

Meanwhile, friend and foe alike had evacuated the citizenry en masse. No matter where the exodus took the residents, everyone felt displaced. It was not until early April 1945 that the war ended in the Over-Betuwe. The Allies then captured the still occupied part of the region.

'The Wing' is the symbol that refers to all those acts of war. In addition, it is a metaphor for those who have not yet freed themselves from war.

Breaking free mentally from the violence of war is a long process. Unprocessed pain and misery are a handicap, make one flabby.

The quest for redemption from war pain applies to both military and civilian. Understanding and attention can have a healing effect. For that reason, this memorial is also an ode to those, who stay in our midst as war refugees and to the veteran, who has been on a peace mission.

Forget death
and you have no life.
Forget the war
and you have no peace.