Quote:
Originally Posted by Skydragon
PRINCE CHARLES was today risking a backlash after agreeing to attend a controversial First World War commemoration in France.
The Prince and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, were joining European Union dignitaries at Verdun, close to the German border, to mark the 90th anniversary of the Armistice.
But the location, chosen by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the scene of one of the bloodiest actions in military history, has angered many, including British veterans and the German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Prince Charles embroiled in row over Armistice ceremony at Verdun | News
As Henry Allingham & Bill Stone have said - Remember the dead from all sides, everyone lost sons and husbands! |
I haven't read anything about Mrs. Merkel's pulling out in the German media, so I guess it was over-emphasized by the reporters. Her replacement, Peter Müller is not only at the moment heading the German Bundesrat (which is the political representation of the Federal States as bodies of the Federal republic) but as soon as he is representing the Federal Republic of Germany in a foreign state he is higher ranked than the Chancellor, so he in fact is acting as our Head of State which Angela Merkel can't . So in sending him, Merkel was upgrading the event!
I personally think Verdun is a very fitting place to conmemorate all those killed soldiers in war which don't even have the "honour" of helping their own side. Those who were killed there were killed to no militarian aim at all. Poor souls, may the rest in peace.