France Commemorates 86th Anniversary of De Gaulle's 18 June 1940 Appeal with Ceremonies Honoring Resistance

France marked the 86th anniversary of General Charles de Gaulle's historic 18 June 1940 appeal with solemn ceremonies highlighting the enduring spirit of the French Resistance during World War II.

At Mont-Valérien, a key site where over 1,000 hostages and resistance fighters were executed between 1941 and 1944, a ceremony featured the Croix de Lorraine emblem symbolizing resistance. Under radiant skies, troops stood at attention while the Republican Guard's 60 musicians performed the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise," both a tribute to courage and a reminder of de Gaulle's rallying call from London to reject defeat and continue the fight against Nazi occupation. President Emmanuel Macron paid homage by laying a wreath in the memorial crypt, resting place of 17 resistance members and military personnel. The presence of elementary school children underscored the event’s emphasis on preserving the memory and values of resistance for future generations.

Simultaneously, in Nîmes, a ceremony at the monument to the martyrs of the Resistance reaffirmed de Gaulle's call as a founding symbol of courage, freedom, and commitment. State officials commemorated all who committed to France’s liberty, reinforcing the duty of remembrance and transmission of values surrounding the Resistance.

These commemorations serve not just as historical remembrances but as vital expressions of national unity and an enduring call to uphold the principles of freedom and resilience that shaped modern France.