To align with the frame from "One War Ends, Another Begins," the excerpt that best reflects what is occurring is:
"The strongest buildings, half standing, roofless and tottering, told what once had been the make-up of a thriving city."
This excerpt emphasizes the destruction and devastation caused by war, capturing the sense of loss and the remnants of a once-vibrant place, which resonates with themes of conflict and the aftermath of war depicted in the frame.