2023-07-22 10:56:00
Friday, July 21, 2:10 p.m. The city center of Hannut is more than adequately stocked. Families and friends await the passage of the now traditional procession organized for the national holiday. In the crowd, Bernard is preparing to attend the parade for the first time, but he already knows that he will not be disappointed. “There are beautiful little stalls, we take the opportunity to have a drink, to meet friends, colleagues.” And then, “it’s important to meet for the national holiday.”
On the other side of the street, Romain, accompanied by his parents and his brother, shares the same opinion. “The procession is an opportunity to celebrate on July 21.” If he is impatient to discover the floats, he already knows that it is that of Blehen which will be… the most beautiful (given that he is himself from Bléhinois, one can doubt his objectivity). “They decorated it with a country theme.”
2:20 p.m. Fire-eaters animate the city center while waiting for the start of the procession. Which is not to displease Marilyne. “They are really gifted. I took the opportunity to take lots of photos.
In the rue Albert Ier, seated in front of the Caves de Hesbaye, Axel Godar, Audrey George and their son Gabriel, who live nearby, are preparing to discover the procession. “In general, we are on vacation at this time,” explains Audrey. It will also be a great first for Axel’s parents who made the trip from Grand-Bigard. “We sacrificed the air parade to come here,” laughs Solange. And if everyone wants to discover the parade, “we especially came for Gabriel”. And seen how he shouted “Look, Mom! It’s starting!”, when the first group arrived, the idea was pretty good.
A dragon, bears, Scots…
This first group was “Asians”, accompanied by a dragon who was particularly affectionate with the crowd. They were quickly followed by a marching band, Andennais bears, Scottish people in kilts, doctors and nurses and a little crazy, a group who performed Jacky’s “La 4L” wonderfully… All this under the amused gaze of a crowd who obviously did not regret having made the trip. “There is good music, a great atmosphere, smiles Geneviève Gliber. There is the sun. People are having fun. It’s a great day.” And then, once the last group had passed, a Napoleonic army on the campaign trail, the streets gradually became empty, leaving confetti on the ground and smiles on the faces of young and old alike.
July 21 in Huy-Waremme ©EDA
In Huy, we talked regarding fraternity, mutual aid and big projects that should revitalize the city.
July 21 in Huy-Waremme ©EDA
On July 21 in Huy, the festivities began at 11 a.m. with the Te Deum ceremony in the collegiate church. Father Michel Teheux delivered a vibrant speech on the values of fraternity and mutual aid essential to living together harmoniously.
After the traditional photo on the steps, the procession headed for the town hall where Éric Dosogne, acting mayor, was surrounded by the few elected officials present, the council being visibly under-represented on this national holiday.
Éric Dosogne first spoke a few words of welcome before wishing a happy birthday to the mayor in title, Christophe Collignon, who was celebrating his 54th birthday today.
The Walloon Minister for Housing, Local Authorities and the City then delivered the second strong speech of the day. After listing the difficulties encountered since the 2021 floods, soaring energy prices and the population’s distrust of any form of authority, he focused his message on proximity to the Hutois in order to give meaning to action. “It is time to look to the future calmly thanks to the City Plan, the many projects of which should be completed in the near future. The City of Huy will then be able to boast of a revitalized left bank – the inauguration being scheduled for October 7th –, an administrative center operational in 2026, tourist appeal boosted by the cable car and a brand new water park. Enough to place Huy as an essential hub between Liège and Namur.” Th.D.
July 21 in Huy-Waremme ©EDA
La Guinguette de Yernawe celebrates its 65th anniversary in this year 2023. And the Guinguette in “national holiday” mode, it has been since 2018, initiated by all the neighborhood committees who wanted to mark July 21. From the boulevard to the Center, from la Tincelle to Yernawe who launched the idea. “We are also joining all the ASBLs that gravitate around it, without forgetting the former committee of Dommartin”, underlines Dilek Kelleci, president of the Committee of Yernawe.
July 21st is the celebration of all the citizens of the commune, with almost exclusive sponsorship of companies attached to Saint-Georges. But also from further afield with a circle that widens each year, thanks to and word-of-mouth. From bouncy castles to food stand, bars to cocktails. With 3 DJs (including DJ Olivier, also from Saint-Georges) on the podium, the atmosphere only grew stronger throughout the evening punctuated by the long-awaited national fireworks display… and watched, sometimes from afar in the countryside. J.L
Four helicopters flew over the center of Waremme as part of the celebration of the national holiday.
July 21 in Huy-Waremme ©EDA
The commemorations of July 21 began at 2 p.m. in Waremme with the Te Deum which took place in the Saint-Pierre church and which was followed by a tribute to the Waremmian abbot Fraipont-Ndagijimana, who worked in the service of young people and the most deprived.
It was at 3 p.m. that the ceremony at the headstones took place on the Place du Roi Albert Ier, in the company of the local authorities. Jacques Chabot, the mayor, spoke to the patriotic associations to celebrate what will probably be his penultimate July 21 as mayor. “This July 21 is an opportunity to recall our attachment to the ideals of democracy, tolerance, solidarity and social friendships, it is also an opportunity to remember our war heroes,” he said.
The alderman in charge, Julien Humblet, for his part recalled the importance of remaining attentive today. “The current context bears similarities to the 1930s, the rise of populist nationals increasingly resembles that passion for force and rule regimes that tried to sweep away democracies.”
Raymond Schmitz, 75, president of the association Souvenir et civisme, created on the initiative of Guy Coëme, for his part, highlighted the last two veterans who participated in the war of 40: a former deportee from compulsory labor aged 101 and a former resistant soon to be 98 years old. “Today, we forget too much, it’s difficult to find people who don’t ask for anything and who come just for the committee,” he lamented.
Called into action, the firefighters were unable to honor their new non-commissioned officers, as planned. After the glass of friendship in front of the tourist office, four helicopters flew over the center of Waremme at 4:40 p.m. CL
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