Once again this year, our association remained true to its commitment to Michel Soriano, Mayor of Lasseran, by taking part in the November 11th ceremony, the Lasseran Peace Day.
Michel Soriano made this day a call for peace addressed to all belligerents.
After recalling that the First World War claimed 1,400,000 lives, including 8 local residents, and left 4 million wounded and maimed, he asked the question: why and for whom were all these lives cut short and families destroyed? His highly engaging speech then pointed out the aberration of the colossal sums spent on the army and weapons production, while funds are lacking for health and education, among other things.
He concluded his speech with this appeal: « Let’s wake up and tell our politicians to stop the wars. The survival of our children and life on earth depend on it. »
Then, in a fitting symbol for November 11th, Michel Soriano gave the floor to a young German woman, Manuela, who read out a letter sent by Karl Liebknecht to French MPs in July 1914, urging them not to go to war. A sad reminder that Karl Liebnecht was assassinated on January 15, 1919 at the age of 48.Pacifism is an uphill battle.
Catherine Manuel, elected representative for Cordes-sur-Ciel (Tarn), an AFCDRP member community, read a letter written by a soldier to his wife in 1916, describing the horror of war at the heart of the Battle of Verdun.
Jean-Jacques Siry, co-president of our association, read a poem written by an atomic bomb survivor, describing his experiences as a 10-year-old child during the bombing of Hiroshima.
Then the mayor of Fleurance (Gers – Occitanie), Ronny Mazzoleni, read us Arthur Rimbaud’s beautiful poem, « Le dormeur du Val ».
Three children from the Lasséran school put the finishing touches to this beautiful ceremony, reading in three voices the text of Aldebert’s song, « Aux âmes citoyens ».
Participants then gathered in the Salle des Fêtes for a « pot of friendship », where we were able to admire the drawings created by the school’s pupils.
Of course, we’re looking forward to November 11, 2024.