November 1st, in addition to being the Catholic feast of All Saints' Day, is also French Remembrance Day. A ceremony took place at 12 p.m. in Mende.
On this Friday 1is November 2024, religious holiday of All Saints' Day, but also French Remembrance Day, a ceremony in honor of the 56 dead for France buried at the Séjalan 1 cemetery, in Mende, was organized.
Laurent Suau, president of the Department, Françoise Amarger-Brajon, who represented Mayor Régine Bourgade, Colonel Marie-Béatrice Tonnany, head of the gendarmerie group, Colonel Dominique Turc, president of the society of members of the Legion of Honor of Lozère, or even Commander Marc Toulouse, head of the city's fire and rescue center, were notably present.
51 burials in the military square
Behind the standard bearers, whose ranks were swelled by cadets from the gendarmerie and young firefighters from the Henri-Rouvière college in Bleymard, the civil and military authorities, as well as around forty citizens, came together. first visited the grave of the Beys family, whose five children died during the First World War.
The delegation then continued its stroll to the military square and its 51 graves (the other five are scattered throughout the cemetery, Editor's note).
Midi Libre – Célian Guignard
Reading of “Hymn to the Martyrs of July” by Victor Hugo
Guy Saleil, the general delegate of Souvenir français in Lozère, then read the letter from the general president of the association. “Since 1890, members of French Souvenir have been begging every year, whatever the weather, at the entrance to municipal cemeteries. Their presence has a dual objective: to make as many of our fellow citizens aware of the ardent obligation to safeguard the graves of those who died to preserve our freedom and guarantee the greatness of our country”, he notably continued.
Midi Libre – Célian Guignard
As tradition dictates, during this ceremony which takes place every year, the poem by Victor Hugo Hymn to the dead of July a summer lu. Laurent Suau was responsible for: “Those who piously died for their country; have the right that at their coffin the crowd comes and prays; among the most beautiful names their name is the most beautiful; all glory near them passes and falls ephemeral; and, as would a mother, the voice of an entire people rocks them in their tomb. Glory to those who died for her! To those who are inspired by their example; place in the temple; and who will die as they died!
French Remembrance events
Before heading out of the cemetery, Guy Saleil reminded the audience that French Souvenir was exhibiting ten kakemonos at the Ma Région house until Wednesday, November 20. Without forgetting the arrival of General Georges Lebel, president of the Beyond Handicap association, to give a conference, Thursday, November 7, at 3:30 p.m., on the theme of supporting wounded soldiers and gendarmes. “With the exhibition opening at 6 p.m., your diary will be full for the afternoon and evening,” he cleverly insisted.
