SA military honours fallen soldiers at 108th Remembrance Day service
Valentine noted that the service was a vital moment to honour those who never returned .
On Sunday, South African military veterans, serving members of the South African Armed Forces and diplomats convened in Pretoria to commemorate the 108th Remembrance Day at the Thaba Tshwane New Military Cemetery. Before the ceremony, members of the South African Legion Pretoria Branch, in the act of placing traditional red poppies on graves, discovered the resting place of Private H.W. Visser, who tragically passed away at just 16 years old on 3rd March 1942.
Chairperson of the South African Legion Pretoria Branch, Marina Valentine, expressed her astonishment at the discovery, emphasizing the young age of the fallen soldier. The ceremony served as an opportunity to pay tribute to those who served in various military conflicts, including the world wars, the liberation struggle, and modern peacekeeping missions. Valentine highlighted the significance of the event in honoring those who never returned.
In her remarks, SA Army Chaplain Nicolene Herbst spoke about the symbolic meaning of the remembrance flower, which emerged from the desolate landscape of World War I. She emphasized that from the deepest wounds of conflict, courage and sacrifice can give rise to new life. Herbst also acknowledged the courage of modern South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members deployed abroad, including recent losses in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The service was driven by the theme "United in Sport," which Valentine explored, drawing parallels between the unity brought by sport during times of conflict and peace. She recalled the Christmas Truce of 1914, where opposing soldiers laid down their arms to exchange greetings and play football together. Moreover, she pointed to the Rugby World Cup in 1995 as an example of sport's unifying power in South Africa, a country that had emerged from a divided past.
The ceremony concluded with the laying of over 30 wreaths by international diplomats, military chiefs, and veteran organizations, including a wreath for the unknown soldier. Herbst concluded her remarks by expressing gratitude to the attendees, urging them to remember the fallen with gratitude, honor the living with respect, and carry forward the enduring lesson that sport, like remembrance, can unite us all.
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