IISBAAN YN ‘E MAAITIID de besiele stilte fan it ferlitten hillichdom it is maaitiid mar bûten de tiid briedt it fersûpte gers mei nij grien de tút fan bestimming deryn yn it sin bringer fan it streekjen it frij fielen ûnierdsk njonken it knoffeljen it minsklik mislearjen ah jasses hakkekruk dreamt fan iisprinsesse yn in nije winter tute as by in âlde hit de wrâld in dûnsflier dy kâldreade blommewangen ûnder har mûtse fan suvere ingelewol wei te plôkjen de tút de dream oer de tút de tút fan de dream oer de tút hakkekruk knoffelet troch de hope op de tút fan de dream oer de tút waard in wynwak drûget op, lit de feiten sprekke: ferlitten timpel, dea iis gjin prinsesse by machte
The grave monument in Gytsjerkwas erected in memory of Maria v/d Heuij. Maria was one of seventy evacuees from Arnhem and Limburg who arrived in Gytsjerk on 22 January 1945. Maria died a day later, just a few months old. The harsh conditions during the trip had proved fatal to her. Maria did not live to see the liberation. Fortunately, many of the other evacuees with whom she undertook the journey did.
Symbolism
The monument's spiritual father, artist Klaas Bokma, chose two carts because this was the means of transport often used by evacuees. The four withered trees symbolise death. The cross is not only a symbol of the Christian faith, but also a reminder of the sacrifice made by war victims for a life of freedom.
The oldest pupils of Ichtus and Thrimwalda primary schools take care of this monument.