A moving tribute was paid by the city of Nice and the association Mon Liban d’Azur. Two days after the terrible double explosion, the emotion is palpable on the Amiral Infernet quay. A hundred people gathered to support or express their grief.
“Lebanon will not die, it will rise again”, was the keynote phrase at the ceremony last night. Many political figures were present, including Eric Ciotti, Philippe Vardon, Christine Amiel, as well as the mayors of Mougins, Tourrette-Levens, and Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat towns. They delivered poignant and hopeful speeches. Eric Ciotti speaks of a wounded Lebanon ready to embark on “a reconstruction for a free and independent country”. He references Charles de Gaulle and his Beirut speech “toward the complicated Orient, I sailed towards simple ideas”. Eric Ciotti announced that an emergency aid of 50,000 euros has been allocated by the Alpes-Maritimes, to help with the reconstruction.
Flowers to the Sea
A wreath of red and white flowers, along with a scroll, was thrown into the water by Géraldine Ghostine, president of the Association. Two containers of rose petals were available for all participants wishing to pay a final tribute. To conclude the ceremony, a minute of silence followed by the Lebanese and French anthems.
