Honoring veterans is a solemn duty. Here at Place des Anciens Combattants en Algérie Maroc Tunisie-1952-1962 we recognize their sacrifices. This space commemorates those who served in North Africa.
Place des Anciens Combattants isn’t a grand square. It is more like a garden. This triangular area widens to the south. Two rows of plane trees offer shade. They line the north side along Rue Jean Sarrasin.
The Place des Anciens Combattants took shape in the 1970s. This was after a large building was constructed. A ten-story building borders the west side. Benches provide seating with a view. You see the Combe Blanche building in the distance.
The dates 1952 to 1962 are significant. They mark a turbulent period of decolonization. It affected Morocco and Tunisia. Then it greatly impacted Algeria. The Place des Anciens Combattants honors those who served during these conflicts.
Lyon was deeply affected by these events. Many young men were called to serve. This included my own father. The Algerian War particularly shook France. It led to the end of the Fourth Republic.
Lyon’s population also changed. People came from Algeria. Many settled in areas like La Duchère. Tragedies impacted Lyon’s community. One story tells of the Hild family. Their son returned from the war injured. This led to the parents’ despair and suicide. They then sold their café.
The land where Place des Anciens Combattants now stands once belonged to Air Liquide. A street in Vaise also honors these veterans. It is called Rue des Combattants en Afrique du Nord. It shares the same dates of remembrance.
Nearly two million men served in North Africa from 1952 to 1962. Over 25000 died for France. Seventy thousand were wounded. France remembers them on December 5th each year.
This day honors all who suffered. It includes soldiers and conscripts. It also recognizes the Harkis and their families. It commemorates those who disappeared. It acknowledges those who left their homes.
Place des Anciens Combattants is a place for reflection. It stands as a reminder of a complex history. It is a memory that shapes our present. It encourages national unity. It calls for recognition of all experiences.