Armistice day

On November 11, we traditionally remember the veterans of all the wars in which Belgium fought. However with the celebrations of 100 year Great War, we commemorate today especially  the victims,  both military and civilian, of this War.

This year, on a rainy and gloomy weekend in July, we visited the area of the Ypres Salient, one of the most historic battle grounds ever.

We visited numerous grave yards, an endless parade of white crosses, row after row after row, marking the graves of those young soldiers who lie buried in Flanders Fields. The silent witnesses of a war that triggered an indescribable amount of suffering, tragedy and madness.

Some figures: there were 10 million deaths during the four-year world war. Of these, about 550,000 were killed in and around Ypres.

So many, husbands, fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles, ... that did not return home.

The mother of all wars should have been the first and the last world war.

But ironically, the seeds of the Second World War were sown at the end of the first one. France asked unrealistic reparations amounts from the enemy and forced Germany to give up pieces of their territory. Germany was deeply humiliated. This led to years of poverty, social unrest and revenge and would eventually lead to an even greater war. After 4 years of atrocity, the politicians had learned nothing and the subsequent generations either.

Everybody should visit the Ypres Salient in their life time. There is nothing so humbling as to walk around the graves of those who died for our future and freedom. And it might just make people think... As Plato said : 'Only the dead have seen the end of war'.

It is for us the living ones to remember those who died for us. It is for the youth to never forget the atrocity that took place and to hold the candle of peace and hope high.

One who forgets his past, has no future.

For the hundreds of thousands of deceased soldiers who now rest eternally in Flanders Fields, there is no tomorrow. They gave up their tomorrow for our future.

Let’s take care of that future wisely.