比利时举行纪念一战百年活动

 BRUSSELS, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from over 80 countries paid tribute to the fallen soldiers in the Great War at a special ceremony in Belgium on Tuesday.

Heads of state and other dignitaries gathered in the towns of Nieuport and Ypres to commemorate¹ those that died in some of the most tragic² scenes in the conflict, which this year sees the centenary of its outbreak.

Those attending the ceremonies include the German Chancellor³ Angela Merkel.

Belgium stages ceremonies to mark WWI in Nieuport, YpresThe ceremony began on Tuesday afternoon in the town of Nieuport, with the arrival of Belgian King Philippe and his wife Queen Mathilde, who laid a wreath at the statue of his ancestor, King Albert I.

The King also addressed the heads of state, including Chancellor Merkel as well as representatives from the United Kingdom and the King and Queen of the Netherlands.

A second commemoration will take place later on Tuesday at Ypres, scene of massive loss of lives during the war, and a place that has come to be seen as a symbol of the tragedy of WWI. Ypres was the scene of five separate battles during the course of the war.

A special playing of the Last Post, a musical elegy⁴ for the dead that is performed each day in the town by the Menin Gate memorial, will be performed in the presence of the King.

The ceremonies are part of a year-long series on commemorations in Belgium marking the centenary of the outbreak of WWI. Throughout the year, the heads of state from countries including the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and Germany have paid tribute to the millions that died during the four-year conflict.

1 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

2 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

3 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

4 elegy   

n.哀歌，挽歌

参考例句：

• Good heavens,what would be more tragic than that elegy!天哪，还有什么比那首挽歌更悲伤的呢！
• His book is not intended to be a complete history but a personal elegy.他的书与其说是一部完整的历史，更像是一篇个人挽歌。