They have red eyes, but modestly, they hold back their tears. Quentin and Adrien have just discovered the name of their father on the new war memorial for France in foreign operations. "It's beautiful, we feel pride," they simply summarize. These two brothers were respectively only three and seven years old in 2001 when Warrant Officer Xavier Andreoli died of his injuries after being hit by the explosion of a mine during a mission in the Prozor region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Herzegovina. "It's nice to see that these people whose names we did not know are now honored, there were great wars that were commemorated, now it's the turn of the little ones," they explain to the plate of died in the former Yugoslavia.

The sculpture represents six soldiers, five men and a woman. They carry an invisible coffin. # 11November #Opex pic.twitter.com/2aPgixtToY

Stéphanie Trouillard (@Stbslam) November 11, 2019

"There is finally recognition"

Like them, dozens of families came on the occasion of 11-November to the four corners of France to attend the inauguration by President Emmanuel Macron of this monument, the first dedicated to the dead in external operations. 549 names are now inscribed on the various panels of this memorial located in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, in the André Citroën Park. In his speech, the Head of State addressed these parents, these spouses, these bereaved children recalling the "pain of absence", but also the "supreme sacrifice" of these 547 men and 2 women who are not "dead in vain". "From Chad to Mali, from Lebanon to Iraq, from the Balkans to Syria and Burkina Faso, you have honored France, everywhere, every time.This monument, this memorial is yours," he said. -he describes.

For Carole and Eric Nguyen, who lost their half-brother Carl Rabiller, 20, in 1996 in Bosnia-Herzegovina, these words of President Macron sound right. "Even if with the years, his death does not pass, there is finally recognition", they underline. "We waited a long time, because until then, there was nothing, today is a true national tribute with an impact throughout the country".

Martine and Monique Urion also welcome this ceremony. They have been waiting for forty years to attend such a commemoration. Their cousin Pierre Urion, a mobile gendarme, was killed in an ambush in 1969 in Chad. "We made the trip from Lorraine, it was very important for us, these soldiers finally come out of the shadows, and this inauguration is a very strong symbol for families," explains Martine. "Being present is also a mark of attachment to this brave cousin," she adds.

Joana Depina came with her family to represent her son Adriano, killed at the age of 24 in 1995 in Sarajevo. She considers that he has always received a lot of tributes, but that this one is a plus with this national ceremony. pic.twitter.com/QLKIvjISM0

Stéphanie Trouillard (@Stbslam) November 11, 2019

"Everything goes back like it was yesterday"

On the other hand, Joana Inacio De Pina does not feel that these soldiers have been left out. Since the death of her son, Corporal Adriano De Pina Oliveria, in 1995 in Sarajevo, she believes that her memory has been maintained by the army: "He has always received tributes, his name is inscribed on the monument to the dead. of Vitry, but there it is true that it is a plus ". Odette-Anne Perrot is of the same opinion. Her husband Henry, a chief warrant officer, killed in Lebanon in 1985 "has never been forgotten", but this inauguration allows "a booster shot" for the French who do not remember these external operations. "There was nothing to commemorate these events, now there is a recognition for these soldiers, it is important for their comrades in arms and also for their children, mine will not fail to come and see his name." , raise this widow of military.

Stéphanie Wormes lost her husband Christophe Gobin in 1997 in Congo-Brazzaville. She wanted to be present even though this ceremony revived old pains. She hopes to finally turn the page and the French become aware of the sacrifice of these soldiers. pic.twitter.com/OXJDiF1cju

Stéphanie Trouillard (@Stbslam) November 11, 2019

The inauguration of this memorial soothes loved ones, but it also revives old wounds. At the entrance of the park, Stéphanie Wormes is struggling to contain her tears. "Everything goes back as if it was yesterday.I cried for three days.It's hard to think about him, the violent announcement of his death, the repatriation of his body ... Everything collapsed", says the wife of Corporal Christophe Gobin, killed in 1997 in Brazzaville. More than twenty years after her death, despite her still intense sorrow, she especially hopes that this ceremony will be the occasion of an awareness: "He gave his life to save people. abstract because these operations are happening abroad, but they must realize that there are young people who go on mission away from home and who put their lives in danger for them ".

To conclude this ceremony, President Emmanuel Macron also insisted on this necessary gratitude: "By inaugurating this memorial, France fulfills a debt of honor.Our deaths for France in foreign operations, the Nation is infinitely grateful".