Nov 29, 2017 - Werl Germany
Verla Katherine Fuller January 10, 1939 - May 25, 1967 Not Lost But Sent Ahead
We drove to Werl Germany today from Holland to visit my Aunt’s grave. Aunt Verla was Mom’s youngest sister who died in Germany in 1967 when she was 28 years old (she was a year older than Uncle Marvin). Her husband was in the air force and was stationed in Germany at the time Aunt Verla died.
Canada's commitment to NATO resulted in the stationing of brigade groups in Germany for a time in the 50s and 60s, and 474 of those troops and their dependents were buried in the Cemetery in Werl.
I thought this was interesting . . . in most locations in Europe plots are not acquired in perpetuity but rather for a specific period of time, after which the grave marker is removed and eventually the plot is reused. Fortunately, the two Canadian Sections in Werl are secured with a 50-year lease and a renewal clause, so these graves won’t be lost.
All the Canadian grave markers in Werl were replaced with granite ones in 2003.
I’m not sure if any other family members have been there to visit Aunt Verla’s grave. Perhaps there has been, but I’m really happy Kristen and I were able to make it there to visit her for a bit!
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-armed-forces/canadian-post-war-military-dependant-graves/city/1?p=6