Information Signs Peace Forest Bastogne

The "Bois de la Paix" or the Forest of Peace is located between the Mardasson Memorial in Bastogne and the village of Bizory. This forest was created to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Ardennes. The forest covers 3 hectares and contains all kinds of tree species that are native to the Bastogne plateau. It is remarkable that all the trees together, viewed from the air, form the symbol of UNICEF.
The forest was dedicated to the Belgian and allied fighters and civilians who fought for our freedom. On June 11, 1994, the day of the official inauguration of the Peace Forest, all American veterans were invited to the ceremony.

Around the central part of the forest, the martyr cities of the war are displayed on an information board together with three trees that symbolize their region.
The sign tells the history of the city in three languages.
These cities are Bastogne (Belgium), Verdun (France), Marzabotto (Italy), Wiltz (Grand Duchy of Luxembourg), Coventry (Great Britain), Kalavrita (Greece), Kragujevac (Serbia), Lublin (Poland), Boves (Italy) , Cassino (Italy), Como (Italy), Cuneo (Italy), Guernica (Spain), Oswiecim (Poland), Volgograd (Russia), Warsaw (Poland), Krusevac (Yugoslavia), Falaise (France), Oradour-sur- Glane (France), Périers (France), Avranches (France), Châteaubriant (France), Saint-Lô (France), Caen (France), Ste-Mère-Eglise (France), Carentan (France), Lidice (Czech Republic) , Reims (France), Tourlaville (France).

Because the forest is a peace symbol that continues to grow in the 21st century, new Peacekeepers are occasionally added, these are cities where violence often rears its head.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Marie-Christine Vinck