Euskirchen and Heimbach: Memory of the victims of the wars

Euskirchen and Heimbach: Memory of the victims of the wars

A moving Memorial Day was celebrated in Euskirchen, Heimbach and Kall, which touched the hearts of those present and stimulated to think. General Peter Webert, the site elder of the Bundeswehr in Euskirchen, opened the commemoration in the cemetery of honor with haunting words: "It is a day to remember". He emphasized the importance of cooperation and warned of the dangers that bring current conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and the Middle East. "War is again the means of politics," said the general who called on the present to learn from history.

In Euskirchen, numerous representatives from politics and institutions resigned wreaths at the memorial. District Administrator Markus Ramers, Mayor Sacha Reichelt and many other guests of honor showed their connection with the victims. In Heimbach, Mayor Jochen Weiler recalled the tragic fates of the soldiers who went to the senseless war for Hitler. "Everyone dies for themselves," he quoted the title of a novel by Hans Fallada and brought parallels to today's debates about freedom of expression. "Free expression is a fundamental right, but has limits," says Weiler, who underlined the importance of commemoration.

memorial events in Kall and Heimbach

Mayor Hermann-Josef Esser von Kall spoke about the current wars in Israel and Ukraine at the memorial event in Steinfeld. Rhetorically, he asked the question: "How should a nation defend itself if it is attacked from the outside?" And warned of a "naive pacifism". In Heimbach, too, the event was musically framed by the Musikverein Hergarten, while the volunteer fire brigade held a guard of honor. "Our responsibility applies to the peace of people," warned Peter Cremer, Chairman of the Volksbund Deutsche Wargräberfürsorge, and recalled the fallen soldiers and the generation of war.

The central memorial event in Steinfeld was led by P. Paul Cyrus and offered a worthy framework for the victims' honor. The volunteer fire brigades and various clubs contributed to the festive atmosphere. The Memorial Day in Kall, Heimbach and Euskirchen was not only a memory of the past, but also an urgent appeal for peace and cohesion in today's world.