The bodies of the first victims of the Malaysian Airlines MH17 tragedy have been returned to the Netherlands, honoured in a moment of silence by Dutch soldiers, dignitaries and grieving family members.

Two military aircraft, one from the Netherlands carrying 16 bodies and the other from Australia carrying 24, touched down around 3:50 p.m. CEST at the Eindhoven Air Base, where the flights were met by Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other government officials. Hundreds of relatives were also there.

Of the 298 people killed when the Boeing 777 was downed in Eastern Ukraine last Thursday, 193 were Dutch.
Wellwishers laid flowers on a growing pile and signed a condolence book at the airport as the first plane made its descent. Flags from every country the victims hailed from — including Canada's, for 24-year-old Andrei Anghel — flew at half-mast on the tarmac.

It’s unclear if Anghel, from Ajax, Ont., was on one of the planes. Anghel's sister, Lexi, told CBC News her family is still devastated by the loss and isn't planning to travel to the Netherlands at this time.

Dutch soldiers dressed in dark blue uniforms marched into place and saluted before taking the caskets off the planes and loading them into hearses.

Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima, Prime Minister Mark Rutte were on hand.

King Willem-Alexander clasped his wife's hand as the couple grimly watched teams carry the coffins slowly from the planes to a fleet of waiting hearses. Almost the only sound was of boots marching across the ground and flags flapping in the wind.

The CBC’s Tom Parry, reporting from the Eindhoven, said the bodies would be moved to Hilversum military base, about 100 kilometres away, where forensics teams will begin identifying them.

Dutch officials have warned grieving family members that it could take months before the bodies are identified.

"If I have to wait five months for identification, I can do it," said Silene Fredriksz-Hoogzand, whose son, Bryce, and his girlfriend Daisy Oehlers died in the crash.

"Waiting while the bodies were in the field and in the train was a nightmare."

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/malaysia-airlines-flight-mh17-victims-bodies-arrive-in-the-netherlands-1.2715147

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May their souls rest in peace

Ikpewe: May their souls rest in peace

Amen

na wa
may they rest in peace

RIP. As we continue to pray for the peace of the earth.

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Back to the topic.....RIP to the dead