Summary of article in Billed Bladet #35, 2013.
Frederik dybt rørt - Frederik deeply moved.
Written by Ulrik Ulriksen.
Each year Frederik presents grants from the Anders Lassen Foundation, to soldiers or relatives of soldiers who have been killed in action.
This year three grants for 25.000 DKK were presented to each child of the Jæger (Army special forces soldier) Rene Brink Jacobsen, who was killed in Afghanistan in January this year. His children are Sara, aged 13. Maja, aged 10 and one year old Thor, whom Frederik took his time chatting to and getting to know.
Another recipient was the British senior sergeant, Andy Peat, who was on the same patrol as Rene Jacobsen and who distinguished himself by covering the patrol while Rene Jacobsen was treated and brought out of the line of fire.
It is the first time a foreign soldier recieve this honor.
However, regulations prohibit senior sergeant Andy Peat, from recieving the cash grant, so his wife who was there too, recieved it on his behalf whereupon she presented it to the widow of Rene Jacobsen, Camilla Jacobsen.
There were other recipients, from the Frogman Corps, but they remain anonymous.
Frederik gave a speech telling who Anders Lassen was, basically comparing the recipients with him, while maintaining eye contact with Camilla Jacobsen and her children. Here Frederik's eyes teared up.
- Anders Lassen VC, was one of the founding members of Special Boat Squadron and he was killed on 9th April 1945 in Northern Italy. Five years to the day Denmark was occupied. (*) The Frogman Corps is directly modelled after Special Boat Squadron and as such Frederik know the story very well indeed.
Camilla Jacobsen said afterwards about Frederik practically addressing the speech to her and her children: "I think he wanted to signal that the person and elite soldier Anders Lassen was, in regards to courage and dedication, were some of the qualities the Crown Prince wanted to tell me that Rene also possessed.
The Crown Prince was good in the way he talked to us and he was sweet (in the way he) in greeting the children and looked them in the eyes and asked about their school. He took his time. Our little boy really charmed his way into him (Frederik).
The Crown Prince is easy to speak with and very down to earth. I think it went well and it was very pleasant.
No matter whether you are a Crown Prince or an ordinary Dane, you can sense the feelings of those who have lost someone dear. You can sense the big grief. That is something, I'm sure, that moved the Crown Prince. There is no doubt about that. That made a big impression on me.
He did indeed take the whole seance with us and the frogmen very serious.
To us it is a huge loss to have lost Rene. But I think that when we get further into the future/down the line, we will think back on this day as a big recognition of the work my husband did.
It sure means a lot with the recognition. That will also stand as a very strong and vivid experience for especially the children that they met the Crown Prince. That may only happen once in their lives".
She goes on to say that even though BB bring the story because of Frederik, it nevertheless means a lot to her, because it means that her husband and what he did, will be mentioned and thus in a way honored.
(*) It has been suggested that Anders Lassen had a death wish towards the end of the war. Something that is not uncommon with soldiers in war. Anders Lassen was when he died 26 IIRC, that means he basically all his adult life had been at war, and a pretty intense war. He had lived a life on the edge and it was basically all he knew. - And now the war was ending... now what? Going home? To a job in a factory? Office? Shop? He didn't even have an education, he was an ordinary seaman, a soldier. Now what? Getting up in the morning, go to work, go home to his wife, (if he could find one), day after day, year after year? Until he goes mad?
The prospect of peace brings nothing but hopelesness.
ADDED: An article and pic from the Defence site:
http://www2.forsvaret.dk/nyheder/overige_nyheder/Pages/Anderslassen2013.aspx
Of Frederik with senior sergeant Andy Peat. Nice to see his wife and duaghter there too.
The reasoning for Andy Peat to recieve the honor:
http://www2.forsvaret.dk/nyheder/overige_nyheder/Documents/Legat_AndyPeat.jpg
He is singled out for extraordinary bravery and determination. Perhaps a medal coming up? He deserves it.
And for the children of Rene Jacobsen:
http://www2.forsvaret.dk/nyheder/overige_nyheder/Documents/Legat_Brink.jpg
In honor of their father who fell 3th January 2013.
Nice to see that Frederik took the time to meet him.
thank you Muhler. very moving article. 
