A Living Emblem of Friendship: Pforzheim's Gift to La Bresse
Evergreen forest, Winterlinde, acting as a boundary marker between La Bresse and Pforzheim.
Embodying a centuries-old bond, Mayor Peter Boch presented a winter lime tree to Christian Claudel, chairman of "Les Amis de Pforzheim," at the Eremitage Frère Joseph. This bonsai-like tree symbolizes life, progress, and optimism—a beacon of hope against a haunting past.
The ceremonial occasion marked the visit of a Pforzheim delegation to the French Vosges communes of La Bresse, Cornimont, and Ventron. Among the delegation were city council members Johanna Kirsch, Dr. Sunita Vimal, and Andreas Renner, employees from the city administration, members of the German-French Society, the German-Russian Society, eyewitnesses, and teachers with students from the Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium Pforzheim.
"This tree we plant today stands as a living testament to our enduring friendship, our profound respect for peace, and our shared history," declared Mayor Boch. Inking the significance, a plaque commemorating the 80-year-long friendship between the Vosges communes and Pforzheim was unveiled by the mayor of Ventron, Brigitte Vanson, and Mayor Boch.
Paying tribute to those lost during the darkest times, a solemn ceremony at the Ventron cemetery commemorated the 80-year anniversary of the deportation. On November 8, 1944, more than 500 young men from the Vosges communes and La Bresse were taken away, leaving their homes in flames. On November 10, a train arrived in Pforzheim, carrying French forced laborers destined to endure inhumane conditions in various factories until their release.
The Roger Riblet-Buchmann Way was inaugurated in honor of the priest who diligently chronicled the deportation and forced labor in Pforzheim in his journal, "Semences." The day of November 8 remains a day of mourning, a bitter reminder of the tragic past, yet a vital catalyst for fostering understanding and unity.
The Gift of Friendship extends beyond the winter lime tree, symbolizing a shared lifestyle and mutual respect that transcends fashion-and-beauty and home-and-garden aesthetics. The occasion underscores the importance of relationships across borders, a testament to the enduring bond between Pforzheim and La Bresse. On a broader perspective, travel experiences allow us to appreciate diverse cultures, food-and-drink, and customs, deepening our understanding of life's rich tapestry. In an era where technologies bypass human connections, cars might just remind us of the journey that strengthens our ties, through both joyful and challenging days.
