Le Quesnoy is one of more than 50 towns and communes that together form the Pays de Mormal Community of Communes (CCPM). This collective promotes connection and cultural exchange between members of our local area, and also carries out important functions within the community including waste and water management. With its many functions, it makes sense that team working for the CCPM would have a lot of people, and that those people might enjoy an end of year outing.
Te Arawhata was delighted to welcome 66 of the CCPM’s finest to discover the story of the liberation of Le Quesnoy by New Zealand soldiers in 1918.
A group of this size does not easily fit in our Museum, so only half began their visit there while the rest started with a talk about the history and culture of Aotearoa New Zealand at the Le Quesnoy Town Hall.
Before long, the two groups swapped so that everyone had a chance to learn about this incredible tale of our joint history and a little more about Kiwi culture too.
Director-General of Services of the CCPM, Pierre-Jean Sanno shared his thoughts following the visit:
“At a time when some are fostering conflict, telling us that we must prepare for war and build walls to protect ourselves, it is important, moving and deeply touching to remember that war creates only losers, shattered families, regardless of which side is chosen.
Our friends forever, the New Zealanders, through their courage, their determination to limit civilian suffering, and their commitment to preserving the heritage of Le Quesnoy, during a conflict 20,000 km from their home that should never have concerned them, have given us an enduring lesson in altruism, selflessness and the sharing of values, so as to restore our freedom.
May this ladder, “Te Arawhata”, help us to rise up and cultivate peace! Bravo to this magnificent museum, a place rich in symbolism and remembrance, which has chosen to nurture life, resilience and peace rather than display weapons and tanks.”