It is the homage of a whole commune to its gendarme killed, just a week ago by a driver. This Saturday, still traumatized by the death of Mélanie Lemée, this 25-year-old gendarme killed on July 4, the 4,500 inhabitants of the small town of Aiguillon, near Agen, in the Lot-et-Garonne, will meet at 3 p.m. for a white march organized by the mayor.
"What happened is unfair"
"Mélanie, we cry a lot, and it is with great emotion that we organize this white march in her honor. What happened is unfair", explains the councilor at the microphone of Europe 1. Like him, many residents have planned to walk alongside the family of the young woman who received the Legion of Honor posthumously on Thursday. "I'm going to put black canvas in front of my store, it's very symbolic and completely normal," says Mickaël Lesportes, a baker who will lower his curtain to participate in the walk.
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"This gendarmette did us good, it brought a lot to the town"
A gesture all the more important for him that he regularly discussed with Mélanie Lemée. "This gendarmette did us good, it brought a lot to the town, she was very nice, it touched everyone." But the inhabitants and the traders are not the only ones who want to walk to the local war memorial in honor of the gendarme, since they will be accompanied by the young woman's colleagues. Among them, Clément Sauvaud, member of the departmental company of Agen, who knew Mélanie Lemée well.
Popular support that affects the police
"Originally from Aiguillon myself, I was very proud to know that she participated in the security of the inhabitants. I met her several times as part of our field missions", he explains. . "We are very touched by the solicitude of the population, and elected officials from across the department who will be present at the white march. It will be truly a moving moment. And it is also moving to see the support of this population that we vows to serve in our careers. "
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"Everyone is saddened and really saddened and touched to know that this young gendarme who had a promising career ahead of her left so early, so young." Before the war memorial and the Marseillaise, the procession will stop in front of the gendarmerie brigade of Mélanie Lemée to gather there in silence. An event that will be "without speech" and "without political recovery", recalls the mayor of Aiguillon.