On the occasion of the national day of tribute to the dead for France during the Algerian war and the battles in Morocco and Tunisia, ceremonies took place in Gard so as not to forget the “Dead for France “.
Nimes
This last national tribute ceremony of the year 2024, which has eleven, attracted fewer people than for November 11. The meeting began with the reading of “Poems and romance of the wind” by Marc Benredjem, by students from Ava-Lovelace and Jules-Vernes colleges. It was then Pierre Longobardi, the vice-president of the UNC Gard (National Union of Combatants) who spoke: “ This day does not forget the victims of the massacres after the ceasefire of 1962. Let us support our armies, they defend our freedoms ».
The ceremony at the Nîmes war memorial. • Photo: Norman Jardin
Wreaths were laid • Photo: Norman Jardin.
And then it was the turn of Marie-Charlotte Euvrard, the chief of staff of the prefect of Gard who read a message from Jean-Louis Thiériot, minister delegate to the Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans “ No, they did not die for nothing: their feats of arms were very real; their bravery too; their dedication among comrades, above all. In the harshness of the fighting, in the face of the horror they endured, they held out for all those who counted on them. We keep all these memories, in their diversity which is a reflection of the lives which carried them, lives which each had immense value ».
Finally, the various institutional representatives laid wreaths at the Nîmes war memorials. The ceremony ended with the Ringing of the Dead and the Marseillaise.
Arles
The commemorative ceremonies organized in Arles as part of the National Day of Tribute to France's dead during the Algerian War and the fighting in Morocco and Tunisia, began with a laying of wreaths in front of the stele of the Anfanoma in memory of returnees from North Africa, missing persons and civilian victims. Then head to the December 5 space at the 9 hills cemetery to pay tribute to the soldiers of Arles who died in North Africa. Elie François, president of the association of combatants prisoners of war and combatants Algeria-Morocco-Tunisia sector of Arles read the message from his national federation. In Arles, in front of the December 5 space at the 9 hills cemetery, this Thursday afternoon. • S.Ma
“It was only on September 26, 2003 that President Jacques Chirac created the national day in tribute to “those who died for France” during the Algerian War and the conflicts in Morocco and Tunisia. December 5, 2003, 40 years after the end of hostilities, is the date of the inauguration of a national monument erected on Quai Branly on the banks of the Seine in Paris where the names of all those who died for France parade night and day. in North Africa. It is in this place and in front of the war memorials in our towns and villages that we gather every year to pay solemn homage to our brothers in Arms who have often remained forgotten. Here they are who reappear today, they who were buried in the greatest discretion.“The institutional and association representatives then proceeded to lay wreaths before heading towards the War Memorial on Boulevard des Lices where the official ceremony took place at 4:45 p.m.
Beaucaire
Mayor Nelson Chaudon surrounded by some of the elected representatives of the majority, departmental and regional councilors, as well as the Commander Christophe Guglielminotti of the 503rd Train Regiment and representatives of veterans' associations gathered at the Beaucaire cemetery to pay tribute to those who died for France during the Algerian War and the battles in Morocco and Tunisia. The mayor paid tribute to the memory of those who “acted with exemplary courage driven by patriotism and a deep love for our homeland“. “In return, our duty is to never forget their dedication and to continue to keep their memory alive.he continued during his speech, also addressing his thoughts to the 70,000 wounded, the exiles, the pieds-noirs and the harkis. By remembering their fight, we must also cultivate love for our country, France, by supporting the values of freedom, equality and fraternity. Ensuring we preserve French identity and culture at all costs.“
In front of the War Memorial in the Beaucaire cemetery this Thursday. • S.Ma
And the same to conclude: “France has no reason to repent and our soldiers who fell during these conflicts thought so from the deepest of their hearts.“Gérard Sarrailh, president of the National Union of Combatants, Beaucaire section, then read the message from Jean-Louis Thiériot, Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans, before laying the wreath in front of the War Memorial.
Alès
Christophe Rivenq paid tribute to Jean-Jacques Serio, president of the 161st Section of Military Medalists of Alès, who died last week. • DR/Titouan Mariac – City of Alès
The ceremony honoring the dead for France during the Algerian War and the fighting in Morocco and Tunisia was marked, this Thursday, December 5, by unexpected (or almost) disturbances near Alès. In front of the monument to the dead in Square Verdun, Christophe Rivenq, first deputy mayor and son of a veteran of the Algerian War, faithful to all commemorations, whether March 19, the anniversary of the ceasefire. -the fire in Algeria, or December 5, was accompanied by Léa Boyer, municipal elected official, sub-prefect Émile Soumbo and representatives of veterans' associations. At the very beginning of the ceremony, Christophe Rivenq took the floor to pay tribute to Jean-Jacques Surio, president of the 161st Section of Military Medalists of Alès, who died last week at the age of 74. He praised the man he was, emphasizing his commitment and his contribution to the memory of veterans.
The remembrance ceremony in memory of the fighters who died for France in North Africa, this Thursday morning in Alès. • DR/Titouan Mariac – City of Alès
But this day of remembrance was disturbed by the slogans of the demonstrators. The ceremony indeed coincided with a national mobilization of public service unions, opposed to a savings plan of 1.2 billion euros included in the 2025 draft budget. The demonstrators marched noisily near Square Verdun, sometimes disrupting official speeches. The sub-prefect nevertheless wanted to recall, when reading an official message from the State, that it was not until 1999 that the Algerian war was recognized as such by France. For decades, we only talked about “events”. After the speeches, wreaths were laid one by one. The participants then greeted the flag bearers before singing in unison The Marseillaise. Meanwhile, in the background, demonstrators gathered in front of city hall chanted their slogans, creating the impression of a sound duel where each group tried to cover the other.
