This Thursday morning, May 8, the people of Nice commemorated the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The ceremony took place around the war memorial, on Quai Rauba Capéu in Nice.
Do not forget in memory of those soldiers who proudly defended our country. This morning at 9 a.m., students, veterans, military personnel, citizens, and some elected officials including the Senator of Alpes-Maritimes Dominique Estrosi-Sassone, the Deputy Eric Ciotti, and Deputy Prefect Patrick Amoussou-Adéblé gathered for a moment of reflection and remembrance. The tribute was presided over by Minister of Transport Philippe Tabarot. Present on this occasion, the Mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, spoke about the continuity of the collective act of remembrance: “For 80 years, we have gathered in front of the war memorials to honor the courage and dedication of those who liberated our country.”
The central figure of that era, General Charles de Gaulle, was widely invoked. May 8 is also “a moment when we include ourselves in this collective history, made of courageous choices and loyalty to the values of the Republic,” recalled the mayor.
An explicit reference was made to the recent horrors, notably the massacres perpetrated by Hamas, which tragically recall, according to Christian Estrosi, “the dark hours of the Shoah.” History, he insisted, “sometimes repeats itself, and it is our duty of vigilance to never forget it.”
An act of memory facing present threats
The mayor emphasized the importance of these ceremonies in a world where peace, long thought of as guaranteed, is now threatened. “The perpetual peace we believed possible after the fall of the Berlin Wall seems to be wavering. History never stops: war is on our borders in Ukraine and Armenia,” he declared. In a speech filled with solemnity, Christian Estrosi stressed the importance of remembering the courageous choices of our elders, those who risked their lives to defeat Nazism and end a policy of extermination.
Youth present to carry the memory
Among the participants in the ceremony, a senior high school student from the Lycée du Parc Impérial took part in this moment of remembrance. She spoke with a speech focusing on the main theme, peace and the courage of our ancestors. Their presence symbolizes the necessity to pass this history on to generations who have not known war but live in an unstable world.
A wreath was laid at the foot of the war memorial, a solemn gesture concluded with “Long live the Republic, long live France.”
A peace to defend, a future to build
Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces, was represented by Philippe Tabarot, Minister of Transport. The ceremony reminded that France, after the war, chose a great destiny. “Alongside our European partners who share our vision of peace, we must continue to defend the values that our predecessors managed to triumph,” highlighted the State representative.
On this May 8, 2025, Nice not only honored its dead but also affirmed its vigilance in face of today’s threats.
