42 Bataljon Limburgse Jagers

“It is better that it will be me than one of them”.
Tom said that before he came to this camp, Camp Hadrian.
During his time here, initially he had to fight for his place, for the place of his platoon.
In the beginning, a stranger in the club. But he fought, because of his idea that everything had to be perfect. 100 percent.
Tom was very happy that he could come to this place; this mission was the highlight of his career.
And today, three years ago; the 10th of July 2007 , a black page in the book of life of Tom and his fellow-creatures.
Today is like browsing a book backward, for that one chapter, for that one page.
People write history, every day again. Their own history.
We live in days, perhaps we can plan something ahead, but today again: history is made.
By saying this, it seems as though we are the only who can write history, as if we can determine the history.
If we start to browse backward in the book that’s called
“Tom Krist”, we must experience that there is always an unknown factor in play from outside. In which or whose book we will browse.
And that is why we browse today to that one chapter in that book, this special page. To remember what then, that day happened, on 10th of July, 2007. A collegue, a dear friend has taken away from life.
We stand here to remember who Tom was and what he meant to many of us and still does.
And for us again,  just to be aware of what we have done here also, and that we have written history, all of us.
Within a few days, within a few weeks or months we, the Dutch, French and Slowak soldiers will all return home and this chapter, our chapter, is history. But in this chapter is also a black page, filled with the loss of Christophe, Abdul Jabar and Luc. For Luc, there is a commemorative plate on the signboard behind me.
And in the coming years the 10th of July is not the only day to browse in that book of life, but the 22nd of May as well…

I wish everyone, as we stand here, will come home safely and I wish also that our successors, the Americans and Australians, do not have to browse back in the book of life, the way we do it right now. That they also may come home safely.

Tom we will never forget you, rest in peace. Forever. Amen.