Remembrance Service Viersen
Remembrance Sunday Service at
Viersen - 13 November 2011
By Paul Houston - Canadian Liaison
Officer
This year saw the 93rd
Anniversary of the end of World War 1 and the 66th
Anniversary of the end of World War II.
There are now no living survivors of
World War I. Harry Patch died in 2009 at the age of 111 and
Dr. Erich Kästner (Germany) died in 2008 at the age of 107.
The Remembrance Day ceremonies today have taken on a new
direction. Not only do they give us the chance to pay our respects
to the fallen in the World Wars, they also remind people that there
are even now conflicts in which soldiers are on active service.
The Remembrance Sunday proceedings commenced at 11:00 hrs in
Viersen amidst an air if respect from everyone who was there. The
Viersen Local Government, along with the German War Graves
Commission had organized the occasion.
Present on the day were:
Michael Aach - Vorstizender Dülken
Marina Hammes - Bürgermeisterin Viersen a.D.
Günter Thönnessen - Bürgermeister
Udo van Neer - Stellvertretender Landrat
Paul Houston - RBL Canadian Liaison Officer RBL Rheindahlen.
The German Bundeswehr Reservists Association (Verband der
Reservisten der Deutschen Bundeswehr e.V.) were also present along
with two members of the Bundeswehr.
Paul Houston had ensured that there would be the presence of
Bagpipes for the occasion by arranging an appearance by the White
Hackle Pipes and Drums e.V., represented by Jürgen Hölters and son
who performed a deeply touching rendition of Amazing Grace on the
day.
A speech was given by Marina Hammes - Bürgermeisterin Viersen
a.D. This brought across the message of the day in a fitting
way.
There were sadly, members of the public who came along to
protest against the ceremony. This was another case of people not
understanding the meaning of Remembrance Sunday. It is still
unfortunate that some people still relate such days with the period
of German history between 1933-1945. Mrs Hammes however made the
point perfectly clear in her speech that the occasion was to honour
and remember the fallen from every war and every
nation. It was therefore, more then fitting that the bagpipes and
RBL accompanied the German Reservists and Bundeswehr. The majority
of the public however were there to pay their respects. This was
the most important thing.
Representatives from the Viersen local government, German
Reservists, Bundeswehr, German War Graves Commission and RBL laid
the wreaths in front of the "Siegfried" memorial and paid their
respects by partaking in a minute of silence.
As the occasion came to a close, RBL´s Paul Houston was able to
speak to Lt (Reserve) Jürgen Barthel and Mr Udo van Neer
(Stellvertretender Landrat). Mr Houston was happy to accept an
official invitation on behalf of the RBL to attend the Viersen
ceremony in the coming years.
It is pleasing to see that respect between the German Reservists
and the RBL is at
a very high level. The coming years will see the 100th
Anniversary of the start of World War I. This will see both sides
standing side by side, shoulder on shoulder respecting the dead
from both of their countries and ensuring that they will never be
forgotten.
"They shall grow not old, as we that
are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the
years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in
the morning,
We will remember them."
Special thanks to Isa for taking the
photographs below.
