Damien, Joseph b. January 3, 1840 d. April 15, 1889 The man who gave his life for the lepers of Hawaii. Joseph de Veuster was born to a farm family in Tremeloo, Belgium. Opting to follow in his brother's and sister's footsteps into a religious vocation, he entered religious life as a lay brother assuming the name of Damien after a physician-saint from the fourth century. Volunteering to join his order at the Sacred Hearts Mission in Hawaii, he arrived and was ordained a Catholic priest in Honolulu with an assignment to the leper colony...[Read More] (Bio by: Donald Greyfield) Cause of death: Leprosy (Hansen's Disease) Crypt of Father Damien, Leuven, Flemish Brabant (Vlaams-Brabant), Belgium
Garland, Donald Edward b. June 28, 1918 d. May 12, 1940 World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Ballinacor, Ireland, he served as a Sergeant Flying Officer in the 12th Squadron, Royal Air Force. On May 12, 1940, Flying Officer Garland was the pilot of a Tornado GR4 and Sergeant Thomas Gray was the observer of the leading aircraft formation of five aircraft that attacked a bridges over the Albert Canal which had not been destroyed and was allowing the enemy to advance into Belgium. As they approached the target, they met an inferno of anti-...[Read More] (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith) Heverlee War Cemetery, Leuven, Flemish Brabant (Vlaams-Brabant), Belgium Plot: 6.F.14-16.
Gray, Sgt. Thomas b. May 17, 1914 d. May 12, 1940 World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Urchfont, England, he served as a Sergeant in the 12th Squadron, Royal Air Force. On May 12, 1940, with Flying Officer Donald Garland as the pilot of a Tornado GR4 and Sergeant Thomas Gray as the observer of the leading aircraft formation of five aircraft that attacked a bridges over the Albert Canal which had not been destroyed and was allowing the enemy to advance into Belgium. As they approached the target, they met an inferno of anti-aircraft...[Read More] (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith) Heverlee War Cemetery, Leuven, Flemish Brabant (Vlaams-Brabant), Belgium Plot: Coll. Grave 6. F. 14-16.
Henry I b. 1160 d. September 5, 1235 Duke of Brabant. Reigning from 1190 to 1235, he was the 2nd Duke of Brabant and is said to have "assumed the title." He was also know as "le Guerroyeur", "the Pious", and "the Warrior". He was the husband of Mathilde of Boulogne. Saint Peter's Church, Leuven, Flemish Brabant (Vlaams-Brabant), Belgium
Manser, Leslie Thomas b. May 11, 1922 d. May 31, 1942 World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in New Delhi, India, he served as a Flying Officer in the 50 Squadron, Royal Air Force. On the night of May 30, 1942, Flying Officer Manser in his Manchester bomber aircraft, was part of the mass raid on Cologne, Germany. As he came over the target, his aircraft was caught in searchlights and although he bombed the target successfully, his plane was hit by flak. In an effort to escape the anti-aircraft fire he took evasive action, reduced his altitude...[Read More] (Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith) Heverlee War Cemetery, Leuven, Flemish Brabant (Vlaams-Brabant), Belgium Plot: 7.G.1.
Margaret, Saint 'Proud Margaret' b. 1207 d. 1225 Martyr and patron saint of Leuven. Her remains are in the reliquary which was constructed in 1902 and bears scenes of her life. There are two legends about her. The first: She was a young virgin who worked in a winehouse. One night she was sent to get more wine when she was murdered by bandits who threw her in the river Dijle, but instead of floating downstream, Margrietje floated upstream back to Leuven. The other legend claims that she was abducted when she went to a convent with relatives...[Read More] Saint Peter's Church, Leuven, Flemish Brabant (Vlaams-Brabant), Belgium
Mathilda of Boulogne b. 1162 d. 1211 Duchess of Brabant. Married Duke Henry in 1179. She is called Mathilda (aka Maud) of Alsace and Flanders, being considered that because her father, Matthew, was from there. However, he was the Count of Boulogne and her mother, Marie, was Countess of Boulogne and Mortain (as well as the Abbess of Ramsey Mortain), so she can rightly be considered also as being "of Boulogne." Saint Peter's Church, Leuven, Flemish Brabant (Vlaams-Brabant), Belgium
b. January 3, 1840 d. April 15, 1889