|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A "GBRHM" 2009 re-enactment production: Remember day - Bon-Secours (Belgium) |
Important note Photos provided on this website are not an endorsement of any political idea or of war. War is one of the most regrettable human activities. All photos on this page are copyright Robert Mary and may only be reproduced with their express permission. You may contact me here |
What is this event about ? Bon-Secours, today in the entity of Péruwelz, is neither Bastogne, nor Ouradour. That is the originality of the event...A small quite ordinary city remembers its liberation and carries a message to the future generations. It's our Duty of Memory. And also our Duty for the Future with regards to the future generations. Remember Day is born in 1995 with the return of James William Carroll, the "First American" entered in Bon-Secours/Péruwelz on Sunday September 3, 1944. He had been said dead. He was searched for well tardily. To flower a tomb...and he was found quite alive in Alabama on March 21, 1995. Year by year these moments
of Memory became richer and richer. In front of the Basilica is created
a "Mystery" like those of the Middle
Ages. A history that everyone knows and revives with more emotion each
time. There are books, speeches, films which report the years 1940-1945,
the worse period of our history. But "Saving Private Ryan" or "Band
of Brothers" are films. Somewhere else, anywhere...Here, we live
the event in our streets, where we live, on these same paving stones,
between these same brick walls. In front front of the Basilica of Bon-Secours,
so close to Notre Dame... Just here, on September 3rd,
1944, in the street of St. Amand, a gendarme, Xavier Lupant was killed
while trying to inform the inhabitants of the
arrival of the last particularly aggressive German elements. The shootings
also killed a nun of Notre Dame of the Treille, Marie-Dominique Debarge.
The partisans killed a German motorcyclist, whose body was profaned.
Populace never respects the dead enemy. Two women are also humiliated.
A collaborator is subjected to the odious show of hanging on the balcony
of the city hall. A captive German is killed in a street of Wiers, a
village next to Péruwelz. His companion is saved by citizens who
protect him from the "avenger". All is grey in these periods.
The spirit of revenge is mixed with the joy of freedom and heroism. At
the same time the partisans capture the Germans, still hidden downtown.
Cars burn, shooting reach the Basilica... Before and after
the re-enactment, US and German camps can be freely visited by the
public. The GBRHM This event was co-organized by the GBHRM and the REMEMBER DAY. This is the abreviation of "Groupe Belge de Reconstitution Historique Militaire" 40-45. The GBHRM is located
at: The movie
Event address: From E25 and E313
highways towards Namur-Mons-Tournai, Coming by car is mandatory due to the location of the event. Key contact persons
to get additional information are: Personal note |
Year
of visit: May 2009 |