At the foot of the war memorial in Nice, the city commemorated this morning the 81st anniversary of the victory of May 8, 1945. From 9:30 to 11 a.m., civil and military authorities, patriotic associations and citizens gathered in a solemn atmosphere to pay tribute to the soldiers who died for France.
The ceremony took place in the presence of the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes, Laurent Hottiaux, the mayor of Nice, Éric Ciotti, as well as representatives of the military, security forces and numerous local elected officials.
The morning began with the reception of authorities and the troop review, composed notably of a detachment of the 21st marine infantry regiment, the 93rd mountain artillery regiment and the gendarmerie of the Alpes-Maritimes. In the silence of Castle Hill, marked by the music of the city’s firefighters, several ceremonial moments followed one another: presentation of decorations, official readings and wreath-laying ceremonies.
Two soldiers also received the military medal during the ceremony. The official messages were then read, recalling the historical significance of this date. “ May 8, 1945 carried a hope for peace“, recalled notably a student from the Imperial Park high school during the reading of the message from the French Union of Veterans’ Associations.
“Freedom is not preserved, it is defended”
After a traditional Marseillaise, Éric Ciotti emphasized the symbolic significance of the place and the memory of those from Nice who fell during the war. “ On this stone, one can read an inscription: The city of Nice to its sons who died for France. It is therefore at this moment that we think of the sons of Nice“, he declared.
The mayor also recalled the commitment of local resistance fighters, notably evoking the figure of Max Barel, a resistance fighter from Nice who died under torture in 1944. “ These broken lives were not in vain. They allowed France to endure and continue its immense history“, he affirmed.
In a tense international context, the elected official also drew a parallel with current conflicts. “ Freedom is not preserved, it is defended. Each generation receives this heritage and must decide what to do with it.“
Wreath-laying and tribute to veterans
The central moment of the ceremony, several associations and institutions laid wreaths at the foot of the monument. Among them were the Royal British Legion, the National Union of Veterans, the French Memory Association and the French Union of Veterans’ Associations and War Victims.
Special tribute was also paid to soldiers who fell during overseas operations. The ceremony ended in solemn silence, followed by the national anthem and the Song of the Partisans, performed before the flag bearers and the many delegations present.
