Elke jaar op die 11de uur van die 11de dag van die 11de maand (11 November) kom mense oor Europa heen bymekaar om Wapenstilstandsdag te gedenk \u2013 die dag dat die Eerste W\u00eareldoorlog in 1918 tot \u2019n einde gekom het. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hierdie dag dra \u2019n diep betekenis in veral Europa, waar die wreedheid van die oorlog sy merk gelaat het en der miljoene lewens op die bloedigste manier ge\u00ebis het. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ek bevind my vanjaar op hierdie dag op die Franse platteland, waar die dag op somber wyse as \u2019n nasionale vakansiedag gevier word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Die land herdenk die opoffering van soldate wat hul lewe gegee het in die strewe na vrede. Wapenstilstandsdag is veral in Frankryk, wat slagvelde soos Verdun, Amiens en Somme \u2013 waar die berugte slag van Delville Wood ook plaasgevind het \u2013 ervaar het, is \u2019n dag van opregte eerbied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nagenoeg 1,4 miljoen Franse soldate het hul lewe verloor, om nie eens te praat van nog duisende burgerlike lewens nie. Historici beraam die totale sterftes in di\u00e9 oorlog \u2013 milit\u00ear en burgerlik \u2013 op 40 miljoen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frankryk se grootste seremonie vir Wapenstilstandsdag vind plaas by die Arc de Triomphe in Parys. Hier lei die President van Frankryk die land in \u2019n huldeblyk aan die gesneuwelde soldate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hoewel die nasionale seremonie in Parys indrukwekkend is, word Wapenstilstandsdag ook intens in dorpe en stede oral in Frankryk beleef. Inwoners vergader in gemeenskappe oor die land heen by plaaslike oorlogsgedenk\u00adtekens met kranse en blomme. Plaaslike veterane, staatsamptenare en skoolkinders neem aan di\u00e9 seremonies deel, wat \u2019n generasie-oorgrens-teenwoordigheid aan die dag bring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hier waar ek is in La For\u00eat-Fouesnant bevind, drom die klein dorpie se inwoners \u2013 oud en jonk \u2013 saam, met die burgemeester aan die stuur van die seremonie by die dorp se oorlogsmonu\u00adment, om die gesneuwelde plaaslike soldate te eer. Die dorp se kinders word ook betrek om hierdie herinneringe aan toekomstige geslagte oor te dra. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Op die sekonde om 11:00 begin die seremonie met \u2019n kranslegging, waarna \u2019n minuut stilte volg. Enkele oorlogsve\u00adte\u00adrane uit die Tweede W\u00eareldoorlog met hul medaljes op hul lapelle vasgespeld staan en kyk met trane in hul o\u00eb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dit is \u2019n werklik emosionele ervaring, maar ook mooi om te sien hoe jonk en oud die gevalle soldate van tot meer as \u2019n eeu gelede eerbiedig en dankbaar vir hulle is vir die vrede wat uiteindelik verseker is vir die nageslagte.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vir baie mense is Wapenstilstandsdag nie net \u2019n herdenking van die verlede nie, maar ook \u2019n herinnering aan die belangrikheid van volgehoue vrede en eenheid oor Europa heen. Of die rituele groot of klein is \u2013 dit dra by tot \u2019n kollektiewe geheue wat voortleef deur hierdie dade van eer en besinning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Elke jaar op die 11de uur van die 11de dag van die 11de maand (11 November) kom mense oor Europa heen bymekaar om Wapenstilstandsdag te gedenk \u2013 die dag dat die Eerste W\u00eareldoorlog in 1918 tot \u2019n einde gekom 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