China News Service, Paris, February 21 (Reporter Li Yang) On the evening of February 21, local time, Missak Manouchian, a French soldier who resisted German Nazi aggression during World War II, and his wife Mélinée Manouchian) were buried together in the Pantheon.
Manuchan was the first member of the French Communist Resistance to be buried in the Panthéon.
On the evening of February 21, local time, Missac Manouchan, a French soldier who resisted the German Nazi invasion during World War II, was buried in the Pantheon together with his wife Merine.
Pictures of the Manuchans and members of the resistance group were projected onto the main entrance of the Pantheon.
Photo by China News Service reporter Li Yang
French officials held a solemn coffin relocation ceremony that night.
Reporters at the scene saw that despite the bad weather, wind and rain, there were still many people waiting in the rain to watch the ceremony on both sides of the road leading to the Pantheon.
Pictures of the Manuchans and members of the resistance group were projected onto the main entrance of the Pantheon.
The resistance group led by Manushan had 23 members from Poland, Hungary, Romania and other countries.
And Manushan himself is from Armenia.
On February 21, 1944, Manushant and many other team members were executed by the German Nazis.
Manushant was only 37 years old when he died.
The ceremony was held on the 80th anniversary of Manushant's death.
On the evening of February 21, local time, Missac Manouchan, a French soldier who resisted the German Nazi invasion during World War II, was buried in the Pantheon together with his wife Merine.
Manuchan was the first member of the French Communist Resistance to be buried in the Panthéon.
Photo by China News Service reporter Li Yang
At the ceremony, the farewell letter written by Manuchan to his wife Merine before his execution was read out. Hearing these simple words 80 years later is still deeply touching.
Merine was sentenced to death in absentia by the Nazis, but she escaped and died in 1989.
She has not remarried and has no children.
During the ceremony that night, photos of 23 members of the resistance group were placed in front of the Pantheon.
According to reports, they will enter the Pantheon in a symbolic way.
A memorial plaque will be placed in the Pantheon and their names will be engraved on it.
French President Macron attended the ceremony and delivered a speech, affirming the contribution Manuchan and his wife have made to France.
He said that France in 2024 should give Manouchan the honor of being buried in the Pantheon.
At the moment when the Manuchans' coffins were carried into the Pantheon, the crowd burst into shouts of "Thank you."
The Panthéon, located in the Latin Quarter of Paris, is a temple that permanently commemorates French historical figures.
Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Zola, Madame Curie and other famous people are buried here.
The last celebrity to be buried in the Pantheon was the legendary artist Josephine Baker, who was buried in November 2021.
(over)