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Speech by Emmanuel Macron during the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the landing in Provence
Emmanuel Macron’s speech during the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the landing in Provence.
(FTV)
The head of state, who awarded the Legion of Honour to three veterans, paid tribute on Thursday to the “most fervent and most colourful army”.
Emmanuel Macron paid tribute to the African soldiers who took part in the landing in Provence on Thursday, August 15, during the commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the event, part of which was cancelled due to the risk of storms. “France does not forget any of the sacrifices” of these soldiers, greeted the head of state, in reference to the fighters of the former French colonies, of whom more than 120,000 fought to liberate Provence.
“Officers of the Empire or children of the Sahara, natives of Casamance or Madagascar, (…) they were not of the same generation, they were not of the same confession, (…) they were nevertheless the army of the nation, the most fervent and the most motley army”, recalled the French head of state, emphasizing the role played by the African army during the landing in Provence, on the night of August 14 to 15, 1944. “When it comes to defending the vital interests of the nation, all those who recognize themselves as French have a vocation to be together”he also said.
The President of the Republic also welcomed the “hero” of this landing.“All of them accomplished, that day and the following ones, a work of which they knew the immense perils. And yet they did it, with this bravado audacity and this irrefutable force.”
After his speech, the Head of State handed over the Legion of Honor to three veterans, while these commemorations were also marked by the speech of Paul Biya. “There would have been no Allied victory without the contribution of other peoples, without foreigners, and other riflemen” Africans, insisted the Cameroonian president, invited like several African heads of state and government.
