25 years of Lourdeskapelle: a place of commemoration and hope in Eichenzell!

25 years of Lourdeskapelle: a place of commemoration and hope in Eichenzell!

On May 28, 2025, the Lourdeskapelle in Eichenzell will celebrate its 25th anniversary. The festival service will take place at 6 p.m. under the direction of Bishop Dr. Michael Gerber, deputy chairman of the German Bishops' Conference. The chapel was inaugurated on the occasion of the second anniversary of the most difficult train accident in post -war history in Germany, in which 101 people died in Eschede on June 3, 1998 and many more were injured. The place now houses memorials for the victims and is reminiscent of the tragedy, which shapes many socially, emotionally and physically.

udo belly, a survivor of the accident, built the chapel as a place of commemoration and thanks. Belly, born in Villingen and living in Eichenzell since 1996, has been committed to victims and their relatives since then. After the accident in which he himself suffered serious injuries such as a traumatic brain trauma and a thigh fracture, he was not only able to survive, but also achieved numerous people through his experiences in the books in the books "Train accident of Eschede" and "severely disabled by the train infiner.

a place of memory and faith

The Lourdeskapelle has developed into an important place of silence, prayer and memory over the years. Two of Udo Bauchs children were baptized there. For him and many others, the chapel is more than just a building; It is a symbol of survival and hope. Udo Bauch is musically supported by the anniversary festival by the singing club Concordia Eichenzell and the solo singer Winfried Hartung. Representatives from politics and society, such as DB corporate spokesman Achim Stauss and DB-Ombudsmann Prof. Udo Steiner, will also be present.

The importance of the Lourdeskapelle is underlined by the high congratulations that Udo belly and the community have received. This includes congratulations from Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Federal Transport Minister Dr. Volker Wissing, Hessian Prime Minister Boris Rhein and the designated Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Again and again Bauch emphasizes the importance of his voluntary work as a disability officer of the community, where he supports people in need and passes on his knowledge in social security law.

a painful past

udo belly was traveling as a passenger in the ICE 884. He describes the moment of impact as extremely loud and immediately feels torn down. After that, he was caught in the pull wreck for almost an hour before he was saved. Despite the serious injuries that still shape it, including left-hand paralysis and constant pain, he has no permanent language or memory problems. The consequences of the accident include 100 percent severe disabilities and years of rehabilitation.

The accident occurred due to a broken wheel tire that was classified as conspicuous the day before. While a trial of three employees of the railway was initiated, it was stopped after four years without results because serious guilt could be excluded. It was only 15 years later that the train sincerely apologized - a step that felt the belly honest. On the anniversary of the accident, he plans to take part in a service in Eschede.

In 2001, a memorial was inaugurated in Eschede itself, where a cherry tree was planted for each of the 101 fatalities. A plaque with the names of the deceased is reminiscent of the tragedy, which is considered the hardest in the history of high -speed trains. The memorial grove is accessible via a staircase and a gate that leads over a street; Other steps symbolically rise into nothing and are reminiscent of the final of the loss.

The Lourdeskapelle remains an important spiritual place that helps people to keep the memories and find the strength, despite the challenges that life has ready. Udo Bauch's commitment, both for the victims and for the community, shows that even the deepest wounds can heal when love and support are given.