Kerkrade says goodbye to Gino (9) | Inland

From a roundabout near the German border, relatives, friends, acquaintances and local residents walk in a long procession to the playground on Hertogenlaan in Kerkrade where the boy disappeared on Wednesday evening. There has been great despair here for days. A sea of ​​flowers, cuddly toys and candles has arisen on the playground.

Gino’s family is leading the way. Relatives wear T-shirts with a picture of Gino on their chest. About two hundred special cars form a hedge of honor along the route, because Gino loved them so much. At the playground, the family gives a short speech, the mayor speaks and is sung at the end.

The commemoration will be held to give everyone from Kerkrade and the surrounding area who has been touched by the tragic news the opportunity to say goodbye to Gino, Gwenda Lankreijer said earlier this week. She is a good friend of sister Kelly, where Gino stayed, and also spokesperson for the family. The funeral is private. For people in the area it is an opportunity to close the case somewhat,” she said.

Nicole Huppertz and Sjoukje Verheijen from Kerkrade did not have to think long when they saw the call to form a guard of honor with motorcycles and special cars. “I also have children of my own. This could have happened to me too.” And so she now stands with her motorcycle with a Fortniteshirt from her son along the road, because Gino really liked this computer game.

Claudia Hofland and Joyce Sentjes from Landgraaf searched for hours on Friday to the then still missing Gino. In vain, they now know. Saturday morning they shed a tear when the tragic news came that the boy had been killed. Tonight they are back in Kerkrade, this time to pay Gino one last tribute. With white roses and stuffed animals from Sentjes’ own children. “It’s the last thing we can do for him, but at the same time it’s very sad that he can’t see this anymore.”

The members of rescue dog brigade MTL are also there. They searched for Gino almost continuously for three days after the disappearance with sniffer dogs. “Unfortunately, we have not found him, but this is the last thing we can do for him,” says coordinator Patricia Spee.

Frans Lemmers built his green Seat for six years and lives in Kerkrade. He didn’t know Gino personally, but it could very well be that the boy – crazy about special cars – saw him drive once. ,,I live a five-minute drive away and there is only one such car in Kerkrade. If you live so close, and this is the last thing you can do for him, then you should just stand here.”

But also car enthusiasts who live further from Kerkrade had a two-hour drive and an empty petrol tank to form a guard of honor with their BMW V10. “If this is the last thing we can do for him, I’d like to stop working a few hours earlier,” says Nick Everts from Zevenaar.

There will be a silent tour in Maastricht on Thursday. Gino lived in this city until he was forced to stay with his older sister in Kerkrade two weeks ago because of his single mother’s illness. Participants in this silent tour are asked to bring lamps, lights and lanterns to put Gino in the light. Gino was afraid of the dark, which is why many children also light lights in front of the house on the Gildenweg in Maastricht.

The news that Gino has passed away hits the residents hard. A sea of ​​flowers has arisen at the playground where he was last seen: