The Project Maple Leaf is initiated by
mr. Robert J. Rushbrook in
Pointe-Claire / Quebec.
Thoughts and plans were made in 1998.
The first presentation was on Liberation Day, May 5th 1999.
Creating Project Maple Leaf in September 1999.
The Welcome Again Veterans Foundation represents the Project Maple Leaf for the Overijssel area.












Silent Stones

This is a quiet place at the end of the night
long dim shadows appear before the dawn
row upon row at the comming of the light
this is our place of rest and we do not hear
not a voice or a gentle breeze
or a raindrop on the soil above.

But, if we could see, we would know side by side
our brothers lie, our souls released by the hand
of fate, for it is here, upon the earth
the moving shadows cast by light,
mark our place
in these vast fields of standing stones.

For some who will never see our final place
and those who have lost their sons at war
only they can feel the pain they bear
Yet, there is comfort and they know
the gentlehand of a caring child,
at a special time will always place
a flower on his grave
and he will never be alone.

These Children, just like you, they know our
names and who we were, it is carved there on
the stones, and also here, a special place
where no name is there to see, there is a cross
and a time, and the word, unknown, it is here
in this far land, a child will gently place a rose
upon this silent stone.....

Robert J. Rushbrook
September 1999

The Project Maple Leaf is a non-profit and benovelent project.

The proposal of this project is to recognize the Elementary School Children and their Schools, situated near the Canadian War Cemeteries and the near-by Commonwealth and Allied War Cemeteries in The Netherlands
On each anniversary of their Liberation Day, on May 4th, the schoolchildren visit all the War Cemeteries and War Graves throughout The Netherlands and place flowers on every grave, in solemn respect for those who gave their lives, for their freedom.
The schoolchildren of Holten place, next to the ceremony on May 4th, burning candles on the graves on Christmas Eve.
Of all the Allied Military Operations in The Netherlands in the years 1944-1945 and 1946 the Canadian Sphere of Military Operations were the most visible to the population and this fact is reflected in the history of their country.

Robert J. Rushbrook
Trooper       G-17047
Canadian Armoured Corps
May 1944

Pierres Silencieuses

Lieu tranquilleau bout de la nuit
où s`allogent les pâles ombres avant le jour
rang après rang dans l`aube naissante
le lieu de notre dernier repos
et nous n`entendons rien
pas une voix ni le souffle léger du vent ni l`eau
qui goutte sur le sol au-dessus de nous.

Mais, si nous avions des yeux pour voir
nous les reconnaîttrions, nos frères
couchés côte à côte avec nous
nos corps séparés de nos âmes
par la main du destin
Car ici nous sommes étendus
et les ombres que la lumière fait bouger
marquent notre place dans ces vastes champes de pierres dressées.

Ceux qui ne verront jamais le lieu où nous somme couchés pour toujours
et ceux qui ont perdu leur fils à la guerre
seuls avec leur douleur
Et pourtant ils ont le réconfort de savoir
qu`à un moment la main d`un enfant aimant
viendra toujours fleurir sa tombé, à ce fils
et qu`il ne sera jamais seul.

L`enfant, tout comme vous
connaît notre nom et sait qui
nous avond été, c`est gravé sur nos tombes,
et là, il y a une croix et une date et le mot
c`est là, dans ce pays éloigné
que l`enfant déposera doucement une rose
sur cette pierre silencieuse.

Robert J. Rushbrook
Septèmbre 1999