Heroic Archives

Friday, October 23 at 11 am, a ceremony in honor of the French Navy who saved Armenians of Musa Dagh in September 1915, took place in the presence of Hubert Falco, Senator and Mayor of Toulon, Former Minister Yves Joly, prefect maritime, consul of Armenia Samvel Lalayan, Dr. Philippe Vitel and Mrs. Genevieve Levy, members of the Var, the Departmental Council of Representatives and Regional Azilazian Simon, President ANACRA Marseille, representatives of regional French-Armenian Associations: CCIFA – Cannes , UCFAF Paris, Draguignan, Martigues, AGBU Marseille, descendants of “rescuers, military associations, flag bearers and Father Aram Gazarian of the Apostolic Cathedral of Marseille.

The ceremony began by sea and Hairenik La Marseillaise interpreted by the musicians of the crew of the Fleet. An address was given by the maritime prefect Yves Joly, honoring the brave rescuers and the permanent action of military support to people at risk, followed by the speech of the President of Shelter Club, Maryse Grigorian.

Then Yves Joly, Senator and Mayor Hubert Falco, SE Samvel Lalayan and Maryse Grigorian discovered bronze representing a ship’s bow, buoy, one hand holding the Cross Armenian, designed by Gerard and David Pamboukdjian which was followed by a salvation to the flags and the blessing of the stele by Father Gazarian.

The ceremony ended with a cocktail party attended by over 200 guests, hosted by the club’s Shelters in the Salons de l’Escale Vauban.

Bronze directed by MM. Gerard and David Pamboukdjian

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The official guests including Hubert Falco, Senator-Mayor of Toulon, Former Minister

To mark the centenary of the heroic resistance of the Armenians of Musa Dagh, the associations and NAZARPEK FRANCE – Musa Dagh were attended by over 200 guests for a festive afternoon, September 20, 2015 in Alfortville Cultural Pole.

Elected officials of the city of Alfortville including Senator and Mayor of Alfortville, Luke Carvounas, members of the parish of the Armenian Church, representatives of the Embassy of Armenia, and many descendants of Armenian survivors 4000 of Musa Dagh were present among the guests.

Sevag Sarikaya, on behalf of NAZARPEK, militant youth organization, took the floor to stress the importance of this act of resistance to the collective memory of the Armenian people who defended himself during the 1915 genocide, where he could , in Van, Hadjn, Sassun and elsewhere, preferring to die arms in hand rather than be deported. Mardiryan Saro, President of FRANCE – Musa Dagh, explained the objectives of the association: “Create Link … make known and promote the history of Musa Dagh, its traditions, its culture, Armenian dialect help … morally and materially the villagers of Vakif, the last of the seven villages of Musa Dagh who stayed Armenian and even the last Armenian village across Turkey. ” He added: “We must do everything possible so that this town continues as long as possible.”

ean Cordelle intervened to share with the public his emotion to have recently discovered what had been his grandfather, Jean Le Mee, a young officer of the French Navy who had charge of the evacuation of the Armenians of Musa Dagh, from 5 to 14 September 1915. He also spoke of the courage and audacity of Armenians admirals Dartrige Fournet and Darrieus who jointly decided to discontinue their mission to evacuate the Armenians in Port Said in Egypt, taking a huge risk in full World War. Thus the story lived by the Armenian side of the mountain crossed the French history lived by the sea and that the meeting of the descendants of these two stories, came to testify after 100 years, has been a very beautiful moment full of symbol and emotion.

Finally, Luc Carvounas, Senator and Mayor of Alfortville, who was offered the famous book by Franz Werfel, the 40 days of Musa Dagh, supported the launch of FRANCE – Musa Dagh, and announced his wish to visit Musaler Armenia, a village founded by descendants of Musa Dagh came to settle in Armenia, where thousands of Armenians find themselves each year to celebrate this historical episode that belongs to the entire nation.

Alfortville on 09/21/2015

NAZARPEK
FRANCE – Musa Dagh