Children in the footsteps of the liberators of France
During the school year, children also learn about remembrance thanks to the Souvenir Français.
Passing on the duty of remembrance to younger generations is one of the missions of the Souvenir Français, a national association founded in 1887 and active across the entire country.
In Le Pradet, this mission takes on its full meaning thanks to the commitment of the local committee, which has been conducting educational activities for the municipality's CM2 students for several years. During the 2024-2025 school year, several classes participated in organized and supervised educational visits around emblematic sites of local and national history.
SACRIFICES Thus, the children were welcomed at the Mémorial du Débarquement et de la Libération de Provence, located on mont Faron in Toulon. This history-filled site retraces the major stages of the Second World War, and more particularly the landing of August 15, 1944, in Provence. A memorable visit to the heart of a modern and interactive museum, which allowed students to better understand the sacrifices made for freedom.
Back in Le Pradet, the classes explored Parc Cravero, an important place of remembrance. This path, lined with steles, pays tribute to the fighters, resistance members, and liberators of the village. Each stop was an opportunity to evoke a local or national episode of the war and to give a human face to these pages of history that are often abstract for the youngest.
VALUES "Those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it," said Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister during the Second World War. This quote, widely discussed with the students, served as a guiding thread for these transmission activities.
Beyond the historical facts, the volunteers of the Souvenir Français also conveyed a message about the importance of commitment, citizenship, and peace. Each visit ended with a solemn moment, featuring a minute of silence in tribute to those who died for France, followed by the singing of La Marseillaise. A friendly snack was then shared, before each class received a symbolic "Guardian of Memory" diploma.
Photos PRESSE AGENCE.
Photos PRESSE AGENCE.