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Gathered in front of the war memorial to commemorate the 1918 Armistice, elected officials, veterans, dignitaries, and residents came together to honor the memory of those who fought in the Great War and all those who fell for France.
A day of national remembrance, November 11 marks the anniversary of the 1918 Armistice and honors the memory of all soldiers who fell for France. This Wednesday in Gustavia, the ceremony underscored the profound significance of the duty to remember: to honor the sacrifice of those who fought for the nation and to keep their memory alive. Throughout the gathering, intergenerational transmission emerged as the central theme of the celebrations.
A powerful message to the youth
At the heart of the speeches, speakers emphasized the duty to remember and the essential role of younger generations. “To you, the young people, we want to pass on not just stories of battles, but stories of men and women,” said Philippe Laduré, president of the Saint-Barthélemy Veterans Association, with emotion. “Behind every name inscribed on a war memorial, there was a life: that is what we ask you not to forget. Our responsibility today is to pass on memories—things that history books cannot always convey. That is how memory remains alive.”
Recalling that peace is never a permanently secured legacy, the speakers urged young people to understand where they come from in order to better build the future. This message was echoed by the president of the Collectivité, Xavier Lédée: “It is up to us to remind ourselves that peace and freedom are never fully secured.”
