North Tryon, Prince Edward Island
Pieter Valkenburg started a research project to tell the important stories of the 48 names on the cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Royal Canadian Legion. With the help of his wife, Daria, he has now shared the stories of hundreds of Canadians who served and died in the First and Second World Wars on their website. Their work helps ensure these Canadian heroes will never be forgotten.
Pieter Valkenburg is a Veteran of the Royal Netherlands Air Force who moved to PEI upon his retirement from the Dutch Foreign Service. Initially, Pieter and his wife Daria started the website “On the War Memorial Trail” to tell the stories behind the 48 names on the cenotaph outside The Royal Canadian Legion Borden-Carleton branch, and to build a wall of remembrance with photos inside the Legion.
What began as a local project quickly became a national one. Pieter and Daria have published hundreds of articles on Canadian service personnel of the First and Second World Wars both on their website and in newspapers.
His research includes gathering photographs and interviewing family members of the fallen. Through his research, he has uncovered and shared stories that families may have never known. This is the case for Flight Sergeant Elmer Bagnall Muttart, who, thanks to Pieter, now has a memorial panel in Wons, Netherlands, to honour his heroics during the Second World War.
Pieter has also visited the European war cemeteries many times to pay his respects to the fallen.
Pieter is an active member of The Royal Canadian Legion Borden-Carleton branch, currently serving as the public relations officer and previously having served as branch service officer and as the Legion representative on the PEI Seniors Secretariat board.
Pieter’s work tells the stories and honours those who died, ensuring they will never be forgotten.