Honouring fallen soldiers

This year, the focus of Remembrance Day commemorations will be the bereaved families of soldiers who have died in war and conflict.
WHAT happened on a fateful day in November 1918 still resonates today: the 11th of the month marks the anniversary of the day that World War I ended, and countries all around the world commemorate this day and honour those who have died in wars on Remembrance Sunday. Johannesburg is no exception.

The CityExecutive mayor Parks Tau will preside over the commemorationsObserved annually on the second Sunday in November, usually on the closest Sunday to the 11th, this year Remembrance Sunday will fall on 13 November.

The deputy director of immovable heritage in the City, Eric Itzkin, describes the day: “Remembrance Sunday honours all fallen South Africans who made the supreme sacrifice for their country in wars and conflict, including the struggle for democracy.”

A different theme is selected every year, with this year focusing on the families of military veterans. “[It] is concerned with recognising the families and dependents of military veterans, including those who have lost loved ones and breadwinners,” Itzkin says.

“Over 200 million people have been killed in wars this last century, leaving countless family members bereaved and affected,” he adds. “It is time for all of us to reflect on the destruction of wars, not only for the fallen, but for their families as well.”

Cenotaph
South Africa’s official commemoration is held at the Cenotaph in Harrison Street every year, and has been since 1926. Executive Mayor Parks Tau will preside over the event, which begins at 2pm.

The CenotaphThe Cenotaph in Harrison StreetA march comprising approximately 700 – made up of military bands and veterans, civilian organisations and the South African Police Service – will begin the ceremony. Thereafter, the chaplain-general of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), Marius Cornelissen, will lead a prayer and inter-faith religious service.

A big part of Remembrance Sunday is the wreath-laying ceremony to salute the fallen. This year, the wreaths will be laid at the base of the Cenotaph by SANDF officers, ex-servicemen, civic dignitaries, diplomatic representatives and youth groups.
Loose flowers will also be available for members of the audience to lay down in remembrance of loved ones who died in battle or conflict.

Broadcast
SAFM, on 105.1FM, will broadcast the ceremony live from 2.55pm for those who cannot be there. “This national radio broadcast is important for many thousands of ex-servicemen and women who are now unable to attend the service due to advanced years and infirmity,” Itzkin says.

Laying of wreathsHonouring the fallenRemembrance Day is also widely known as Armistice Day, Poppy Day and Veterans’ Day and was first held to venerate all those who lost their lives in service to their countries during the Great War, which ran from 1914 to 1918; armistice came at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, or 11am on 11 November, in 1918.

The day has since grown to encompass and pay tribute to all people who have died during war and conflict so that we can enjoy the freedom, democracy and peace for which they fought.

Poppies are the universal symbol for the day, as they bloomed in the fields of Flanders in Europe, where many of the fiercest battles of the First World War were fought. The red petals represent the blood that was shed; the yellow and black centre signifies the mud and desolation of the battlefield; the green of the stem depicts the landscape that people fought and died in.

The stem itself represents the courage of those soldiers. On the whole, the poppy stands for the freedom that follows these wars and conflicts.

In 2010, the ceremony honoured the Indian contribution in wars and conflict; this marked the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indians in South Africa.