Brunssum, The Netherlands – On 11th November, 2024, a military ceremony was held at the JFC Brunssum (JFCBS) compound to commemorate the 106th anniversary of Armistice Day.
The event was attended by Lieutenant General Luis Lanchares, JFC Brunssum Deputy Commander, and Lieutenant General Jean-Pierre Perrin, JFCBS Chief of Staff.
Today, peace is still fragile and deserves to be defended. This is NATO's raison d'être.
The ceremony was led by Brigadier General Bruno Helluy, French Senior National Representative, and was attended by the French military community and senior national representatives from JFCBS.
In his speech, Brigadier General Helluy reflected on the sacrifices made by European nations and their allies during the Great War. He emphasised that peace is never guaranteed and that the sacrifices made by soldiers remind us that peace comes at a cost.
“Today, peace is still fragile and deserves to be defended,” Brigadier General Helluy said. “This is NATO's raison d'être. Beyond plans and exercises, our most important mission is to define and build together an area of peace and freedom.”
On November 11, 1918, at 11:00 a.m., the Armistice was signed between the Allies and Germany at Compiègne, France, officially ending hostilities on the Western Front of World War I. Since then, Armistice Day has been observed annually in France and remains one of the country's most significant military commemorations.
In 2012, November 11th was designated as the official day of remembrance – not only for those who fell during the First World War, but also for all those who have died in service to France. Across the country, ceremonies are held to honour the soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of freedom and peace.