Abbaye d’Ardenne

Discussion in 'War Cemeteries & War Memorial Research' started by canuck, Aug 13, 2012.

  1. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    “On the night of June 7/8, 1944, 18 Canadian soldiers were murdered in this garden while being held here as prisoners of war. Two more prisoners died here or nearby on June 17. They are dead but not forgotten.” - Inscription on the memorial’s bronze tablet.

    In the lush garden of the Abbaye d’Ardenne, soft beams of sunlight stream through trees adorned with poppies and come to rest on a modest but compelling stone monument. This memorial, crafted from stone recovered from the Abbaye itself, commemorates the Canadian prisoners of war killed on 7-8 June 1944 by members of the 12th SS Panzer Division, led by Brigadeführer Kurt Meyer (25th Panzer Grenadier Regiment). Their remains were discovered soon after by members of the Vico family, longtime residents of the Abbaye.
    Jacques Vico, the eldest son residing at the Abbaye, was instrumental in uncovering the physical evidence of the atrocities. Throughout his life he was extremely active in ensuring these brutal actions would always be remembered. In 1984, he worked with two enthusiastic men to design, construct, and unveil the monument which resides in the Abbaye garden today. Mr. Vico recently passed away at the age of 89.
    In this video, Mr. Vico stands next to the monument and speaks (in French) to students of Greenwood College in Toronto, Ontario. He discusses how decisions were made regarding the placement and construction of the stone memorial, and elaborates on the tablet inscription.

    Jacques Vico passed away on August 5, 2012.

    Abbaye d'Ardenne - YouTube


    www.canadianmilitaryhistory.ca
     
    Pieter F likes this.
  2. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

  3. La-de-da-Gunner Graham

    La-de-da-Gunner Graham Senior Member

    I must have missed this thread. Thanks for posting, Canuck. I intend to visit there the next time I am in Normandy.

    Keith
     
  4. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    Keith

    I'll be very interested in hearing your impressions of the Abbaye.
     
  5. 17thDYRCH

    17thDYRCH Senior Member

    Canuck,
    I was there last year but unfortunately did not get a chance to meet Mr. Vico.
    My sister did meet him several years earlier. He paid special attention to visitors from Canada. He remembered the sacrifice paid my many Canadians during the Normandy campaign.
     
  6. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    I met a few of the family members during my visit several years ago. That garden is a special place and the Vico family has been deservedly recognized for their creation and maintenance of that memorial. Also for the unfettered access they allow to their private property.
     
  7. MapleLeafUp

    MapleLeafUp mapleleafup.ca

    I missed this news as well. Thanks for posting about M. Vico. Been there many times, but nothing like my first memory in 1994. I'll have to dig that out of my old travel journals.
    glenn
     
  8. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    stolpi likes this.

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