Remembrance places: where the fallen ones are honored
O n November 26, our joyful group of international students felt a completely different energy once we stepped into Ypres. Death, coldness, and fear have given way to history, remembrance, and patriotism. The ghastly history of World War I is still living in Ypres, however, the remembrance of the city for the fallen ones is poignant.
The Great War — although “great” is not what qualifies a war — was a dreadful moment of history for many countries.
More than 50 nations participated in this war.
More than 70 million military personnel had been called to fight from 1914 to 1918.
More than 21 million died.
The world was shattered in two; the Triple Entente, mostly composed of France, Britain, and Belgium was opposed to the Central Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria.
Remember the fallen ones
Whether the soldiers were fighting for the Triple Entente or the Central Powers, they are all being remembered. Each country is commemorating them every year, including Belgium and France. Differentiating between them would be entirely impossible as they share a whole history.
There is peace after chaos and death in military cemeteries. Paying tribute to the fallen ones is a way to remember them and what they did. The Ramparts Cemetery that we visited on this day in Ypres was breathtaking: the calmness of the location near the river surrounding the fallen ones with peace of mind and serenity.
French soldiers in Belgian cemeteries. Belgian soldiers in French cemeteries. The two countries fought as allies in the Great War, and still pay tribute to the fallen ones. Whether you are in France or Belgium, or other countries, military cemeteries will all be similar, open to anyone, in a quiet location.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” — John F Kennedy
How to live by them? The Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres was the path to thousands of soldiers who passed through this gate on the way to the front. Nowadays, cars and people drive and walk through this memorial, in this way, the thousands of names written on the walls are seen and appreciated. Moreover, it is known that music is one of the strongest ways to experience deep feelings. At the end of our visit, we decided to attend the Last Post Ceremony. At this very moment, sound and silence were concurrently heard; silence was to remain at the end of the ceremony to honor the fallen ones.
Wherever you are, you will be able to find a memorial that honors the soldiers. The identical remembrance places in France and Belgium provide us with a sense of unity. I could not encourage you enough to visit these cemeteries and feel all the power and tranquility surrounding the place.
