As the official ceremonies approach to celebrate the Centenary of the Armistice of the War of 1914-1918, the Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, unveiled to veterans’ associations the program of events that will take place in Nice.
An unexpected surprise was also made public and was received with emotion by those present…
The centenary of the end of the First World War concludes its cycle that began in 2014, with the most significant celebration, that of Victory.
Over these five years, exhibitions, publications, screenings, concerts, readings, heritage tours, symposia… dozens of events have been planned because, in Nice, “the First World War was an extraordinary event in what was then its young history within the French nation,” recalled the mayor of Nice.
“The war memorial, with its beauty and extraordinary dimensions, attests to the singularity of this history, and it is what has received all our attention in preparing our program,” he highlighted.
For the record, in 1919, the municipal council launched an architecture competition and, under the presidency of Mayor General Goiran, awarded the project to the Nice architect Roger Seassal. The work symbolically began with a groundbreaking ceremony on November 11, 1924, and was completed with the inauguration on January 29, 1928, in the presence of Marshal Foch. It was classified as a historical monument in 2011.
We let the Mayor of Nice have the floor for the much-awaited announcement:
“Since 2016, historical and archaeological research conducted by the City of Nice’s services (archives, heritage, and archaeology) in close collaboration with state services have allowed us to better understand the monument, its complexity, and unique quality, which has resulted in a first exhibition currently on display at the municipal archives.
These in-depth works have led to the location of a bronze reliquary urn* representing an eagle of Nice containing plaques deposited by the families of many soldiers who fell on the field of honor, which will be extracted with military honors.
Two days before November 11, on Friday, November 9 and Saturday, November 10, it will be presented to the people of Nice at the Union hall, a historical evocation will be offered, a guestbook will be opened to receive tributes, and finally, a guard will watch over the reliquary.
On November 11, placed at the center of the forecourt, it will be the focus of our attention to give this hundredth anniversary an exceptional dimension and emotion and to pay tribute to the 3,665 soldiers from Nice who died for France.”
