Honoring yesterday's heroes and facing today's memory challenges

106 years after the end of the First World War and the signing of the armistice in Rethondes, the event is commemorated. In the commune of Frontignan La Peyrade, two War Memorials commemorate the sacrifice of its children, who died for France.

Yesterday morning, the gathering took place at Place Gabriel-Péri in La Peyrade in front of many elected officials, representatives of veterans, civil and military authorities, firefighters and some Frontignanais and Lapeyradois.

After the traditional laying of wreaths from veterans and the municipality, Véronique Gautier-Robergeon, president of the French Remembrance committee of the Sète Frontignan-la-Peyrade section, underlined the importance of these “sentinel of memory” monuments. Then Claudie Minguez, deputy mayor delegated to the Educating City, presented the speech by Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces and Veterans. Finally, Mayor Michel Arrouy wished “salute those who fought for equality, liberty and fraternity. This moment allows us to reflect on what history teaches us to build a fairer and more peaceful world. The conflict is insidiously approaching our borders and our democratic models are always threatened. Dialogue and diplomacy must prevail. Every conflict is a scar and peace is never achieved. It is the fruit of a fierce and constant struggle. The filthy beast of racism and anti-Semitism prowls around us and waits for the moment to attack the foundations of our democracy. Today, the spirit of November 11 must resonate with even more fervor. “

“It's what ?”

But we can wonder about this time of memory, when during the commemoration, a child passes by with her mother and asks her: “It's what ? The Tour de France? “Alas no! To this child who has more knowledge of cycling than of French History, it is good to remember that our elders fought and gave their lives for our freedom.

Notwithstanding, we note that there are fewer and fewer veterans during these commemorations because time has taken its toll and the last armed conflict to have affected France is beginning to date, which we can only rejoice about.

Correspondent Midi Libre: 06 78 75 48 78