a visit to Haut-Marne with the scents of childhood

If it is no longer necessary to present the political side of Valérie Debord, in particular in charge, in the Region, of employment, training, guidance, apprenticeship and higher education, we know much less about his ties to our department.

So obviously, when his schedule allows it and it combines with a visit to the extreme south of Haute-Marne, it's a heap of souvenirs which return to the surface.

Even more so when she crosses, to go to the Brasserie Lingone, the sign materializing the arrival in the village of Rivière-les-Fosses. She then sees herself again, walking the streets of this charming little village nestled in greenery.

Regretfully moving away from Haute-Marne…

Valérie, born in Chaumont at the beginning of the seventies, has however lived very little in the prefectural city “we lived on rue de la Corniche, my father was then a salesman at the Renault Paris-Basel garage. However, we left Haute-Marne when I was in primarybecause my younger brother, suffering from deafness, could not be treated on site. My parents, after consulting several specialists, made the choice to move to Nancywhere there was a school adapted to the situation of my little brother “she remembers. A change of region very hard experienced by the familynotably by Simone, Valérie's mother, who found herself in a town where she knew absolutely no one.

The roots…

In fact, it is close to Bourmont that Simone had grown up in a farming family. From then on, for Valérie, as soon as we say the name of her grandfather, Henri Bilinski, her face lights up, she remembers her young years. “My grandparents worked the land, raised cattle on the Luzerain farm, between Audeloncourt and Maisoncelles. Sensing retirement coming but not wanting to remain inactive, my grandfather took the position of caretaker of the Rivière-les-Château. Fosses is where I have been coming to spend my holidays since I was twelve.”.

Yesterday again…

She sees herself walking the streets of the town again ” for me Rivière represented freedom, nature, we ran in the fields all day. My grandfather made me plant radishes, pick apples, while telling me jokes and asking me questions like the difference between a kilo of feathers and a kilo of lead.”. Simple, but moving memories for Valérie.

Even more so when she talks about apples that had to be peeled whole to then garnish the famous tarts of her grandmother Yvette, who unfortunately passed away too soon, or the atmosphere of large family tables.

…come back to find lots of memories

Living close to the church, the grandparents often took the young Valerie at mass. Here again, the one who today occupies high functions in the Region, remembers “the taste of brioche which was distributed at the end of the service. That's probably why I've always loved Haut-Marnaise brioche, in a crown, with its pretty points.. Simple little things, souvenirs childhood who are as many Madeleine de Proust for Valérie Debord.

A sense of belonging

And even if since the end of 1999, with the death of Henri Bilinski, the visits have become less frequent, Valérie, like the members of her family, regularly come to pay their respects at the grave of her grandparents. Which she obviously did a few days ago. “You understand why I am so attached to Haute-Marne and more particularly to this beautiful territory that is its southern extremity. I find sincere people there, close to nature… and also full of wonderful memories”she concludes with emotion before continuing her journey.