The remains of the two servicemen killed by releasing hostages in Burkina Faso arrived Sunday 12th May, 2019 in France. A tribute will be paid to the soldiers on Tuesday.
France is preparing to pay tribute to the two navy commandos killed by releasing hostages in northern Burkina Faso , whose bodies have been repatriated, a sacrifice that arouses intense emotion.
A national tribute to the masters Cédric de Pierrepont, 33, and Alain Bertoncello , 28, will be returned Tuesday 14th May, 2019 at 11am in the courtyard of the Invalides in Paris , chaired by Emmanuel Macron.
“The remains of the two soldiers arrived yesterday on the national territory,” said the Ministry of Armed Forces to AFP Monday, without further details.
“Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly and the military authorities were present on their arrival.“
Before joining the Invalides court, the funeral convoy will span the Seine: “All those who want to greet the military one last time will be able to collect Pont Alexandre III at 10am,” says the ministry.
Families will welcome the two coffins to the Invalides; the president’s address will be followed by the ringing of the dead before the Marseillaise sounds.
Read also: The ex-French hostages released in Burkina Faso have returned to France
“He did the job”
For Florence Charton, Cédric de Pierrepont’s partner, “he died for what he loved to do, for which he was proud. He did his job. That’s what he would have told me, “she testified on the channel TF1 .
Same emotion and respect of his commitment to the companion of Alain Bertoncello. Lea Latourte, a 26-year-old soldier based in Bordeaux, said on radio RTL that he “was aware of the dangers and he faced them with realism. If he had to do it again, he would do it again “, said the young woman who receives” a lot of messages of support “from strangers.
Alain’s father, Jean-Luc Bertoncello also recalled the commitment of his son, who had led him to the prestigious commando Hubert elite of the elite within the navy.
“They did what they had to do, for him it ended badly but for the others, they managed the mission.”
Video. The testimony of Léa, the companion of Alain Bertoncello:
The Minister of Armies has justified the presence of President Emmanuel Macron at Villacoublay airport at the foot of the plane that was returning Saturday in France the two French hostages: Patrick Picque and Laurent Lassimouillas had been kidnapped on May 1 and their driver shot dead, during a safari in northern Benin – an area not recommended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“It was necessary to go,” she said on France Inter, “it was very important for the military but it is also important for all French”.
“The message we wanted to pass is twofold: first, the mission of our armies is to protect the French and they did it.”
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“And, vis-à-vis the terrorists this time (…) is that if they want to attack France and the French, then we will find, that is to say we will seek we will hunt them and neutralize them. ”
With the French hostages, were released an American and a Korean, held “for 28 days” according to the army, but whose presence was unknown.
The announcement of Alain Bertoncello published in the regional press specifies that the funeral of the young soldier will be celebrated Saturday at home in Haute-Savoie (center-east) “in the family intimacy”. He invites from Wednesday those who wish to gather before his remains at the funeral home of Annecy.
Video. “If he had to do it again, he would do it again,” says Alain Bertoncello’s companion:
Another, initiated by friends of Cédric de Pierrepont and intended for his mother, in Morbihan, was launched in memory of “this hero who made the ultimate sacrifice” raised more than 21,000 euros.
Finally, the Belgian NGO “Islands of Peace” calls to support the family of the Beninese guide of the two French, Fiacre Grégoire Gbédji, 30 years old and father of six children. It opened an account for this purpose, “in Belgium in order to avoid the costs associated with international transfers” (details on https://www.ilesdepaix.org/deces-de-fiacre-gbedji/ ).
