17:57 The bells of all Paris churches resound across the sky of the capital. The tocsin first, the rhythm is fast, then the toll. Dead man’s bell. We want this ceremony to be beautiful this Thursday evening to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the attacks of November 13, 2015. At the height of our and untold suffering, the survivors and families of the victims. He was. Beautiful and solemn.
About 1,500 guests gathered at the stand. They face the memorial garden, inaugurated on this occasion, on Place Saint-Gervais (4), directly behind the City Hall. In the center, the lamp tree, the elm tree, a symbol of justice.
“I like that you are free”
It is at his feet that modern organs are installed. First electro record. Jarvis Cocker, singer of the group Pulp, appears. The rocker was living in the capital at the time of the attacks and had written a song, “Friday the 13th”. He states it here, translated into French. A declaration of love to the people of Paris. “I like that you’re free,” he insisted. The Republic is not dead, long live France, Paris I love you. »
Thierry Reboul announced that this ceremony would be lively. It was because of this music that the terrorists attacked that night. And he was the passion of many victims. Make way for “Requiem of Lights” by Victor Le Masne, composed for this occasion. The voices of the Radio France choir, standing on the steps of the Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais church, soared into the sky, accompanied by the Republican Guard orchestra. Electro touch. Then the rays of light curved like a roof. Cathedral of Light.
First speech: Philippe Duperron, president of the 13onze15 association Fraternité et Vérité, father of a Bataclan victim, begins. “Life is stronger than death,” he said, quoting Robert Badinter. But God, we miss them. (…) We must and will reject these fracking efforts. » The faces of the victims follow each other on the cloth screen surrounding the majestic tree.
Eddy de Pretto stepped forward. “How hard it is to bear the absence of a friend,” he says in his warm, calm voice, in “L’Absent” by Gilbert Bécaud. The garden lights up with a thousand fireflies. The pace slows, we give way to the necessary silence. The long list of names of 132 attack victims was read by ten people, from the police, health service, city government and judges. A solemn moment, strong in emotions.
This Thursday, the electric guitar replaces the violin. Yarol Poupaud strums his guitar strings, accompanied by Ingrid Samitier and Victor Mechanick, on “Brothers in Arms”, a Dire Straits song. Beside him were four dancers dressed in black and white.
Arthur Dénouveaux, president of the “Life for Paris” victims’ association and Bataclan survivor, spoke. “To the younger generation that is what I want to convey (…). We should not want a better world for our children, but do everything to live in a better world with them. Life is so fragile, we have to love it, let us love each other! », he encouraged with a moving speech. Actress Lyna Khoudri replaced her, reciting “Prayer to the living to forgive them for being alive” by Charlotte Delbo.
“Paris is being held, France is being held”
It’s Anne Hidalgo’s turn. “November 13 2015 was yesterday,” whispered the capital’s mayor, referring to Parisians who left on the Sunday after the attacks. “As if to say we will live together, our humanity in the flag and in our hearts with the memory of the dead and their lives taken. Paris rises. Paris does not give in to fear. Laughter is heard again. »
Then, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Gerry and the Pacemakers played. It is the national anthem of Liverpool FC supporters (which has become a symbol since the mass movement at Hillsborough stadium in 1989 which claimed the lives of 96 people). Here it is sung by Choir 13, a choir consisting of survivors and victims’ families. Shock. Jesse Hughes, singer of “Eagles of Death Metal” (a group that performed on November 13, 2015 at the Bataclan) walks along the park path and sings with them. “You will never walk alone,” they repeat, like a mantra.
Emmanuel Macron speaks. “The terrorists turned out to be braver than them. Paris succeeded, France succeeded, stressed the President of the Republic, reminding that “85 attacks have been repelled in ten years, including six attacks this year”. We cannot give meaning to November 13th, but we can give meaning to November 14th, to every step of yours, which, if carried out in its entirety, tells us a story of mutual assistance, of life.”
After “Marseillaise” sung by Axelle Saint-Cirel, the audience observed a minute of silence. New songs, rock again and again. “Shooting Star” by Rival Son. “My love is stronger than your love, stronger than your hate,” chanted the Choir 13 singers, wearing black jackets and bandanas. Behind them, a peace sign was projected. The text is powerful, the notes uplifting. Smiles and tears mixed.
Precious moments that we will remember. “It feels good to be French tonight,” said one survivor at the end of this exquisite tribute.
