In order to commemorate the 74th anniversary of this historic event, the City of Nice is organizing a ceremony in General de Gaulle Square in Nice on Wednesday, June 18, 2014, at 6:30 PM.
74 years ago, France was experiencing the darkest days of its history. On June 18, 1940, the French army no longer existed, and two-thirds of the national territory was invaded and occupied.
General de Gaulle, still unknown to the public, on a mission in London, did not accept defeat or humiliation. Just after Marshal Pรฉtain’s government admitted the defeat of France, he made his historic appeal on the BBC, declaring that the war was not over and calling on the French to resist the German occupation in sacrifice and hope. On that day, Free France was born.
Program:
6:30 PM > Start of the Ceremony
– Hoisting of the colors
– Historical evocation of the Appeal of June 18, 1940, by Lieutenant-Colonel Marie-Christine Fix, departmental delegate of the Alpes-Maritimes of the Foundation of Free France.
– Reading of the Appeal of June 18, 1940, by Jean Grimaldi, departmental winner of the National Competition of Resistance and Deportation.
– Radio message of the Appeal of June 18, 1940.
– Reading of the Secretary of State’s message by Adolphe Colrat, Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes.
– Speech by Christian Estrosi, followed by the Marseillaise performed by Elisabeth Vidal.
– Laying of wreaths with the participation of Students from Daudet and Nucรฉra Colleges
(Associations of Former Combatants, Free France, PACA Region, General Council, City of Nice, and State)
– Tribute to the Fallen and a minute of silence
– National anthem performed by the Music of the Firefighters of the City of Nice and conducted by Commander Romain Mussault
– Salute of the Authorities
– Flag Bearers salute the Statue of General de Gaulle
– Departure of the Authorities
7:15 PM > End of the Ceremony
