A ceremony was held this Tuesday, September 3, in Lyon, for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the city. Two former resistance fighters were decorated.
Commemorations took place in the city centre of Lyon to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the city on Tuesday 3 September. Several hundred people took part.
During the ceremony, former resistance fighters Henry Peyrelongue and Roger Leroy were honored and received the medal of honor from the city of Lyon.
“I am very proud to have received this medal, I receive it because I represent all those who fought and gave their lives for the liberation of France,” said Henry Peyrelongue, speaking to BFM Lyon.
A renowned school group
The medals were presented by the mayor of Lyon, Grégory Doucet. During a speech, the latter also reaffirmed his desire to soon rename the Berthelot school group after the resistance fighter Denise Domenach.
“None of us can forget her because, in addition to her feats of arms, she contributed to the maintenance of the resistant memory until the end of her life,” he said in a speech during the ceremony.
Schoolchildren mobilized
As a sign of the transmission to the youngest desired by the organizers of the ceremony, students from the Verrazanne college in Lyon, the Saint-Charles school in Rillieux-la-Pape and the Berthelot school in Lyon performed, with the music of the Artillery, the Chant des partisans and the chant du maquis.
“We must remember September 3, 1944, but we must also remember the years that preceded it. We must know, understand and remember the values that were defended,” stressed the mayor of Lyon on BFM Lyon.
After the wreath laying on Place Bellecour, the ceremony moved to the City Hall. A procession of people dressed in 1940s fashion accompanied the procession. The end of the celebrations took place in front of the City Hall, where the exhibition “Lyon Libérée” is being held until September 22.
