The 4. NATO Memorial Walk Fréthun will be used again this year as a commemorative march to commemorate fallen NATO soldiers on 09/26/2026 in Frethun in France with maximum 100 participants carried out. New is a guided hike past historic sites on Friday, September 25th, 2026.
Organizer: Veteran Culture e.V.
Patron: Reinhold Robbe, Military Commissioner of the German Bundestag a.D.
management: Colonel d.R. Andreas Epple and Major d.R. Martina Lippelt
Cooperation partner:
Fédération du Memorial de l‘ Otan (FMO)
Reservist camaraderie Duisburg
Volksbund German War Graves Commission
Location: NATO memorial in Fréthun near Calais (France) and space around Calais
participant: Civilians & uniforms of NATO, EU and friendly nations
Schedule:
Thursday, September 24th, 2026:
Independent arrival for those who want to take a two-day march with the guided hike (approx. 31 km) on Friday. An overnight stay in the sports hall (see under Friday) is possible from Thursday, but no organized dinner. A special award for the book of medals is still being planned. For this two-day march, the participation fee is €50. Komoot link: https://www.komoot.com/de-de/tour/2877665589?share_token=abdKRdeKCp5ae9bLtCQQzrC9FONZ4WtoDGpPEBrY9SEeE99GyP&ref=wtd
6:00 p.m.: On-site organizational team, check-in
Friday, 09/25/65:
Independent arrival, free mass accommodation in sports hall
Espace Futurum, 62340 Bonningues-les-Calais (https://maps.app.goo.gl/FSohXEgoPxyEmrR79?g_st=aw )
Only 50 camp beds can be provided, allocated according to the order of registration. RVs can be parked.
9:00 a.m.: Start of the guided hike to historic sites at the sports hall.
Saturday, 09/26/26:
08:00: Bus transfer to the NATO Memorial in Frethun
08:15: Welcome by the mayor and wreath-laying ceremony at the NATO Memorial
09:00 a.m.: Departure towards the coast
4:00 p.m.: Cemetery Calais Cemetery (Carré Militraire du Cimetière Nord)
5:00 p.m.: Arrival at the end point in Calais at the Musée Mémoire 39-45 de Calais (Museum 2nd World War, https://maps.app.goo.gl/nExgXUhZhg6AUzZK8?g_st=ipc ) with the award of the medals and certificates by the mayor
6:30 p.m.: Bus transfer to the sports hall in Bonningues-les-Calais
8:00 p.m.: Dinner at the Refuge Gourmand restaurant, 98 Le Village, 62340 Bonigues-les-Calais (https://maps.app.goo.gl/6Ud5EuTZF4JumGSi8?g_st=ipc ). Registration for dinner mandatory, Details will follow after the march registration.
Sunday, September 27th, 2026: breakfast, Dismantling camp beds, Cleaning sports hall, return journey
Monday, 28.09.26: The sports hall can be used for overnight stays until 9:00 a.m.
March route for remembrance: approx. 27 km Link for Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/dede/tour/2796464360?share_token=aSYyC5uU4vzlgP54sXVD1EZjqb8KQEwtkWPljuUogutANPx1eN&ref=wtd´
award: March Medal and Certificate
Participants in recent years will receive a PIN with the number according to the previous participation in addition to the medal.
Participation fee only The remembrance march: 40,- € (Medal, certificate, 2 x breakfast and bus transfer; surpluses are donated to the renovation of the NATO memorial)
Participation fee Friday march and remembrance march: 50,- € (Medal, certificate, 3 x breakfast and bus transfer; surpluses are donated to the renovation of the NATO Memorial)
Registration only via the homepage: https://veteranenkultur.de/memorial-walk/
Organizational:
- Uniform wearing permit is requested
- Breakfast: Coffee and rolls/croissants are provided, please bring cutlery
- Catering During the march on its own responsibility, water stations are set up
- Dinner on Saturday only after prior registration (see under Saturday)
- Participation at your own risk
- Photos and videos can be used for publications
Questions please to: andreas.epple61@gmail.com
