WILLEMSTAD – Parliament Vice President Gilbert Doran attended a wreath-laying ceremony on Tuesday, June 23, to commemorate the 97th anniversary of the Volunteer Corps Curaçao (VKC).
The ceremony took place at the bust of Colonel C.N. Winkel, the founder of the organization, and honored nearly a century of service by VKC volunteers who have contributed to the security and well-being of Curaçao.
According to organizers, the anniversary marks 97 years of dedication and indispensable efforts by generations of volunteers who have supported the island through various civil and security-related activities.
The Volunteer Corps Curaçao was established by Colonel C.N. Winkel, a Dutch military officer stationed in Curaçao who recognized the growing international tensions of the time, as well as the strategic importance and vulnerability of the former Netherlands Antilles.
Concerned about the need for a reliable and well-organized local defense force, as well as civil protection capabilities, Winkel played a key role in creating the organization that would later become the VKC.
During the commemorative event, participants reflected on the corps’ long history and its continued role in supporting the community. The wreath-laying ceremony served as a tribute both to the founder of the organization and to the many volunteers who have served over the past 97 years.
The VKC remains one of Curaçao’s longstanding volunteer institutions, with a history closely linked to the island’s civil defense and emergency preparedness efforts.