The pupils had ample opportunity to ask the mayor questions. This guest lecture was a preparation for the commemoration ceremonies on Monday, October 19. On that day, multiple WWII war victims will be commemorated, and Stolpersteine will be placed at the last residences of 11 victims.
The pupils will also meet the designer of the Stolpersteine, German artist Gunher Demnig, at the town hall. He will provide more information about the origin of these memorial stones, of which over 100,000 have now been placed across Europe in more than 25 countries.
The municipal government considers commemoration initiatives tailored to schools important, as there is a risk that future generations will know less about these dark periods of history. History should serve as a warning about the consequences of war violence. The municipality invests in remembrance education and teaching to make the consequences of historical events more tangible.
Mayor Reekmans regularly gives guest lectures on local war heritage. On Friday, November 13, he will give his annual comprehensive lesson to all fifth and sixth-grade pupils from schools in Glabbeek, Bunsbeek, and Kapellen at GC De Roos.
