8 May, Liberation and Veterans Day

At different times, 8 May will be marked in several places in Sandefjord.

Then both Liberation Day and Veterans Day take center stage. This year marks 79 years since Norway became a free country after just over five years under German occupation.

8 May is also official flag day, so the Norwegian flag will fly from both public and private flagpoles, as well as balconies on this day.

If you want to catch what’s happening, but don’t have the opportunity to meet at one or more of the places, you can still catch everything because the municipality will film and stream it on its website.

Never made it home alive

The important day is marked to honor the fallen and veterans.

Many Norwegians sacrificed their lives for Norway during the Second World War. The sailors of war had their work on board merchant ships, naval vessels and others.

War sailors made a great effort, among other things by securing supplies. Some of them never returned home alive – they never got to experience Norway becoming free again.

Many in whaling and other seafaring were natives of what is now Sandefjord. That is why 8 May is a particularly important day locally, as a thank you, honors and sometimes in memory of war sailors from our flock.

The day is also in honor of veterans (and their families) who have served during the Second World War, as well as in UN service. In almost 80 years, 100,000 Norwegians have been in such service in various operations in many countries around the world.

“Approximately 400 from Sandefjord have participated in such missions since 1978”, it is noted on the municipality’s website.

Blow by blow

By virtue of his position as mayor, Bjørn Ole Gleditsch has several assignments this day. Three times he will lay a wreath, and at least twice he will speak, so it goes from blow to blow.

Several others are also involved throughout the day, including music, speeches and wreath-laying.

It all starts in Duck nest at 11.00. At the monument to the fallen at Andebu manor house, the mayor will lay a wreath and give a memorial speech.

An hour and a half later, at 12.30 in Stokke, he is in place at the monument to the fallen. The mayor lays a wreath here too, but the memorial speech is given by Andreas Withbro.

Then waiting for marking by Sandefjord church at 2 p.m, where the veterans memorial stands in the church park. The mayor offers a welcome before musicians from the Royal Norwegian Marines Music Corps play “Vårsøg”.

Veteran Jørund Nauf Madsø is responsible for the speech and wreath, and then there is a prayer before the first verse of “Ja, vi elsker” is sung.

Memorial plaques

Immediately afterwards, the whole thing is moved a few metres. Because outside the church there will be a commemoration at 2.30 pm at the Seamen’s Memorial.

First, the mayor gives a speech. Then musicians from the Royal Norwegian Marines’ Music Corps play some lyrical pieces signed by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg.

The mayor will then lay a wreath, then there will be a prayer before the first verse of “Yes, we love” is sung.

Those who want can join in the memorial plaques in Sandefjord church at 2.40pm. Parish priest Therese Bustadmo will hold a memorial service there.

Half an hour later, about the same thing happens Sandar church at 15.10. Chaplain Marta Botne takes care of the memorial service at the memorial plaques in Sandar church.