Armistice Day

Floris Steenkamp

One hundred red, eco-friendly balloons were released into the air at the war memorial in the J.C. Harries Park at 11:00 on Sunday, to mark approximately 100 years since the end of World War I.

The release of the balloons was during the annual Armistice Day Parade that takes place every year on the Sunday the closest to the 11th of November. This year Armistice Day was on a Sunday. At 11:00 on 11 November 1918 the Allied Forces signed an Armistice with Germany which ended the four year World War I (1914 – 1918).
War veterans, mostly former SADF and SWATF soldiers of the Namibian liberation war (1966 – 1989) attended the Parade. It is held every year under the auspices of the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (M.O.T.H.S.) Escarpment Shellhole and forms part of similar parades worldwide. The Namibian Navy’s brass band participated in the proceedings and guests included a representative of British war veterans and the delegation of the Brazilian navy also attended. the Deputy Mayor of Walvis Bay Clr Penelope Martin attended the proceedings on behalf of the citizens of Walvis Bay and also laid a wreath. This year’s parade was well attended by members of the public.