Last weekend we reached an important milestone in the memory project Every Name Counts. A year and a half after the start, half of the 25,843 names have already been recorded. Each name was entered by a unique participant. The 12,922nd name was spoken by Veerle Goossens. She recorded the name of Zoltan Guttman.
We were born on the same day, with 82 years difference. He was the same age as me when he was deported. That makes it almost tangible-he becomes more than just a picture on the wall.
Veerle Goossens
This week, Mechelen aldermen Kristof Calvo (culture and youth) and Sabe De Graef (education) also visited Every Name Counts. The City of Mechelen has supported the project from its inception and the aldermen will join the search for new participants for the project.
For the second half, we are really aiming at the youth. The city is going to mobilize youth movements and schools, among others, to support the project. It's important to get young people excited about this and keep the past close to us.
Aldermen Kristof Calvo and Sabe De Graef
We are still looking for 12,921 more people to enter the remaining names. Participants can register through the Kazerne Dossin website and, after participating, can visit the museum’s permanent exhibition for free. The project will be completed when all the names have been voiced. Upon completion, an aural monument will be erected at the Memorial.
