Municipal policeman and ancien combattant pause before the cenotaph
Despite a brief pause yesterday when the heavens opened and all the Agriculteurs breathed a sigh of momentary relief, Sunday broke with the usual canopy of unbroken blue skies over Ribérac. From old newsreels I've seen I think it was much the same back on the same day in 1945 when crowds flooded Trafalgar Square and heard speeches from King George VI and Winston Churchill. I'm not sure what went on in Ribérac that day, but I would imagine every café was full to the rafters with much singing in evidence.
The local band strike up 'La Marseillaise' with plenty of gusto
As is usual at this type of event all across France, the Sapeurs Pompiers were well represented and stood proudly alongside the ever dwindling ancienne combattants. As the speeches were made by representatives including the Mayor, M. Remy Terrienne, local people leaned out of their windows and hung on every word. You get the sense that because the descendants of the same people that were present under German occupation were here today a thread has been formed that continues from 1945 right down to the young female sapeur pompier who today stood erect holding a red velvet cushion bearing commemoration medals.
Our young sapeur pompier waits patiently with her medals
Speeches were made and from the bit I was able to follow, it was all down to General de Gaulle. Everyone, quite obviously has a different view as to who was responsible for achieving victory in Europe, but with the benefit of hindsight I think we can safely say it was a broad combination of factors that brought this about. The war in Europe officially ended on 9 May 1945 with Soviet General Georghi Zhukov accepting the act of surrender from the Germans.
Local Mayor, Monsieur Terrienne, chats with an old soldier
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