Breendonk (Eurotoday) – A poignant tribute is underway at the Fort of Breendonk near Willebroek, Belgium, where the reading marathon ‘Heroes of the Resistance’ has commenced. The event gathers both public figures and private individuals to recite the names of thousands of World War II resistance fighters who lost their lives in the struggle against Nazi occupation.
Why is the 80th anniversary of liberation a key moment for Belgium?
The 48-hour reading event, now in its third year, takes place over May 8th, marking 80 years since Belgium’s liberation from Nazi rule. The purpose is to ensure that the sacrifices of the resistance fighters are not forgotten.
“We must never forget those people. They gave their lives for our freedom,”
says event organiser Dany Neudt.
“It is an ongoing task for all of us to continue to remember them. And what better way to do that than by continuing to read their names?”
The marathon, which began at 2 PM, features readings by both well-known personalities and members of the public. Together, they honor roughly 15,000 identified members of the resistance who died in Breendonk or other Nazi detention sites, according to research by VRT.
“We work together with Cegesoma for the list. That is the war archive. They checked all the names and looked at the files. They are all people who are recognised as members of the resistance.”
This year’s participants also include prominent Belgian author Tom Lanoye.
“He came to me three years ago because he wanted to do something. That’s how he came up with this reading marathon,”
Neudt explains.
“A visit to the Breendonk fort had been on my to-do list for a while,”
says Gella Vandecaveye.
“We all go to Buchenwald and Auschwitz, but we forget about Breendonk. That’s why I was happy to accept this invitation from the BOIC (Belgian Olympic and Interfederal Committee, ed.).”
She recently received a tour of the site.
“That was very fascinating, but also haunting. It grabs you by the throat. I am very sensitive to that. It defies all imagination what happened here, there are no words for it. By reading here, I want to underline the historical and social importance of the fort and continue to honour these resistance heroes.”
Comments
9 responses to “Breendonk 48-Hour Reading Marathon Pays Tribute to WWII Resistance Heroes”
-
Oh, a 48-hour reading marathon to remember heroes—because clearly, the best way to honor the sacrifices of the past is by standing around reading names like it’s a never-ending queue at the pub. 🍻 Let’s hope they serve drinks, or it might just turn into a nap marathon!
-
Oh sure, because nothing says “we remember our heroes” like a 48-hour reading marathon—who needs a good old-fashioned medal ceremony when you can just read names until your throat aches? 🤷♂️ I suppose next year’s event will include a knitting circle to really drive home the nostalgia. 🧶💤
-
Oh brilliant, a 48-hour reading spree to remember the resistance fighters—because nothing says “tribute” quite like a marathon of names that nobody will remember by the end! 🇧🇪📚 Guess we’ll just have to keep those coffee cups full while we’re at it. ☕️🤣
-
Reading names for 48 hours? Now that’s what I call an extreme sport! Who needs Netflix when you can enjoy a marathon of solemnity over popcorn? 🤷♂️📚
-
Oh, a 48-hour reading marathon? Just what every busy Belgian needs—more names to memorize while trying to forget the last three hours of their meeting. 🍻 But hey, nothing says “never forget” like a good old-fashioned endurance test, right?
-
Oh, a 48-hour reading marathon to honor resistance heroes? Because nothing says “we remember” quite like a sleep-deprived crowd reciting names like it’s some sort of literary karaoke night! 🎤📚
-
So, we’re honoring resistance heroes by reading their names for 48 hours? Brilliant! Because nothing says “we remember you” like turning tragedy into a marathon event—next up, the ‘Holocaust Half Marathon’! 🥇📚
-
Reading names for 48 hours? Well, that’s one way to keep the resistance fighters’ spirits alive—because who wouldn’t want their legacy celebrated through the fine art of marathon reading? 📚 Bravo, Belgium, you’ve really nailed the *unique* approach to remembrance! 😂
-
Reading out names for 48 hours? Now that’s what I call a real page-turner! 🎉 Because nothing says “let’s remember our heroes” quite like a marathon that could put even the most dedicated bookworm to sleep.📚😴
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Comments
9 responses to “Breendonk 48-Hour Reading Marathon Pays Tribute to WWII Resistance Heroes”
-
Oh, a 48-hour reading marathon to remember heroes—because clearly, the best way to honor the sacrifices of the past is by standing around reading names like it’s a never-ending queue at the pub. 🍻 Let’s hope they serve drinks, or it might just turn into a nap marathon!
-
Oh sure, because nothing says “we remember our heroes” like a 48-hour reading marathon—who needs a good old-fashioned medal ceremony when you can just read names until your throat aches? 🤷♂️ I suppose next year’s event will include a knitting circle to really drive home the nostalgia. 🧶💤
-
Oh brilliant, a 48-hour reading spree to remember the resistance fighters—because nothing says “tribute” quite like a marathon of names that nobody will remember by the end! 🇧🇪📚 Guess we’ll just have to keep those coffee cups full while we’re at it. ☕️🤣
-
Reading names for 48 hours? Now that’s what I call an extreme sport! Who needs Netflix when you can enjoy a marathon of solemnity over popcorn? 🤷♂️📚
-
Oh, a 48-hour reading marathon? Just what every busy Belgian needs—more names to memorize while trying to forget the last three hours of their meeting. 🍻 But hey, nothing says “never forget” like a good old-fashioned endurance test, right?
-
Oh, a 48-hour reading marathon to honor resistance heroes? Because nothing says “we remember” quite like a sleep-deprived crowd reciting names like it’s some sort of literary karaoke night! 🎤📚
-
So, we’re honoring resistance heroes by reading their names for 48 hours? Brilliant! Because nothing says “we remember you” like turning tragedy into a marathon event—next up, the ‘Holocaust Half Marathon’! 🥇📚
-
Reading names for 48 hours? Well, that’s one way to keep the resistance fighters’ spirits alive—because who wouldn’t want their legacy celebrated through the fine art of marathon reading? 📚 Bravo, Belgium, you’ve really nailed the *unique* approach to remembrance! 😂
-
Reading out names for 48 hours? Now that’s what I call a real page-turner! 🎉 Because nothing says “let’s remember our heroes” quite like a marathon that could put even the most dedicated bookworm to sleep.📚😴
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