“Who was Vital Riethuisen?” someone asks. The Avenue Vital Riethuisen stands before us a testament to a life cut short. It is a tribute to a man who died for his country.
The Avenue Vital Riethuisen in Ganshoren is a reminder of World War I. This completely straight artery stretches nearly 300 meters. It links the Avenue des Gloires nationales to the Avenue Jacques Sermon.
Vital Riethuisen was born in Koekelberg on November 18 1892. He was living in Ganshoren when the German invasion happened. He served as a Sergeant in the Carabiniers-Cyclistes.
Riethuisen was hospitalized in Calais on November 1 1918. He was in the Belgian military hospital “Elisabeth” on Rue des Moulins. Sadly he passed away on November 8 1918 at 8 PM. He succumbed to bronchopneumonia. This illness was a consequence of the flu. Vital was only 26 years old.
He is buried in a private grave in the old Ganshoren cemetery. His name is inscribed on the Ring of Remembrance at the Notre-Dame-de-Lorette International Memorial in Ablain-Saint-Nazaire. The odonymic plaque specifies that he died for his country in 1914-1918 during World War I.
The Avenue Vital Riethuisen is more than just a street. It symbolizes sacrifice. It echoes a time of immense upheaval. It reminds us of the personal stories behind historical events. It is a place to reflect on the cost of freedom. It stands as a solemn tribute to Vital Riethuisen a local hero. His memory lives on.