He caused a sensation in his French soldier's uniform, on the sidelines of the November 11 ceremonies in Saint-Denis. Julien, a 21-year-old history student, participates in his own way in the duty of memory.
In Saint-Denis this Monday, November 11, the day of commemoration of Armistice 14-18, the traditional tribute paid at the foot of the war memorial on Avenue de La Victoire had a rather special participant.
In his “horizon blue” wool greatcoat, wearing the steel Adrien helmet, Lebel rifle slung over his shoulder and a proper mustache, Julien, a 21-year-old history student, caused a sensation.
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Commemorations November 11
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©Reunion the 1st
Passionate about the history of this devastating conflict, the young man wanted to pay, in his own way, homage to the Poilus of the Great War.
“Thousands or even millions of French people died for nothing. Out of four years, there was almost no land gained during the battles, and there were as many deaths for a few hills that were lost again the next day. It was a massacre, a butchery and I wanted to pay tribute to these people who gave their life”explains the young man.
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©Reunion the 1st
An interest born during a trip to France, when he discovered the name of one of his ancestors on a war memorial. Since then, he has tried to pass the torch to the youngest, to perpetuate the duty of memory and to become aware of the conditions in which the Poilus defended the country.
“With this uniform, I speak in schools, colleges and high schools to talk about the First World War and present the equipment to them piece by piece. It's interactive and quite nice!”specifies the student.
“A ceremony without transmission to young people would be meaningless.”
Thierry Pincemaille, director of the office for combatants victims of war in Reunion
Several middle and high school students also participated in the Dionysian commemorations, notably reading the moving letter from a conscript to the front to his family.
“A ceremony without transmission to the youngest would be meaningless” underlines Thierry Pincemaille, director of the office for combatants victims of war in Reunion. “The prefect and the rector insist every year on the presence of young people, to pass on this memory.”
With Julien and his uniform traveling in time, he can in any case count on an effective relay to maintain the memory of these fighters from another century.
