Designed by architect-artist Anna Jäämeri-Ruusuvuori, the memorial plaque to war children is mounted on the wall of the former freight office of Finnish Railways, opposite the west wing of the Helsinki Central railway station. The motif on the plaque is a mother with three small children. The plaque was unveiled at the Eliel Square by the Helsinki War Children Society on 8 May 2008.
During the war years of 1939–1945, approximately 80,000 Finnish children were sent to safety in other Nordic countries. Many of these children embarked on their journey at the Helsinki railway station.
The plaque carries a text in Finnish and Swedish: "During the war years, about 13,000 Finnish children were sent from the Helsinki railway station to safety in other Nordic countries.
8 May 2008 Helsinki War Children Society"
Jäämeri-Ruusuvuori, a war child herself, has also designed a war child monument for Haparanda in Sweden. The work was unveiled by the King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, on 26 April 2005. The monument was erected at the initiative of the Swedish people, and was placed in the Customs Park near the border between Finland and Sweden. Many Finnish war children travelled to their Swedish foster families through Haparanda.
©
The artist
© Helsinki City Artmuseum
WWW-production: Lasipalatsin Mediakeskus Oy,
Flammable Solutions Oy 2001
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