On May 8, this historical event for France marking the end of World War II was celebrated as it should be in the city of Nice alongside all the local officials and military forces.
As every year, the date of May 8, 1945, marks the armistice, and thus the end of the tragic war that claimed millions of lives and injured many more between 1939 and 1945. The mayor of the city, Christian Estrosi, delivered a speech to pay tribute to the veterans and to the victims.
Following this traditional speech, the singing of La Marseillaise, military parades, and poignant readings condemning the barbarism of the past took place. The entire military body and the officials from the city and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region honored this ceremony by laying a wreath symbolizing recognition for those who died for the country. A thought for the families of the victims was also symbolized by this gesture.
In his speech, the city’s mayor emphasized the importance of national cohesion to prevent such events from happening again. Current conflicts echoed in the mayor’s speech, where he used strong language, particularly when he said, “Freedom is not negotiable, not divisible, not diminished. While today it is threatened everywhere from Afghanistan to Ukraine, we defend it.”
