The delegation of Western Armenia and ANACAS (National Association of Armenian Veterans and Sympathizers) participated in the May 8 ceremonies held in Lyon.

Several hundred people gathered in Lyon’s Parc de la Tête d’Or to pay tribute to the fighters of World War II, 81 years after the end of the war.

The ceremony began near the “Gate of the Children of the Rhône” with a solemn military event, followed by the presentation of awards and several speeches, including those of General Alain Lardet, Military Governor of Lyon, Lyon Mayor Grégory Doucet, and Fabienne Buccio, Prefect of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.

This year, the ceremony was held under the symbols of the French National Navy, marking the 400th anniversary of its founding.

Notably, the first female servicemember in the French Navy was Anita Conti (1899–1997), born Karagozian. She was also a photographer, a pioneer of aquaculture and environmentalism, and the first female oceanographer. In November 1939, she served on minesweeper ships in the English Channel and the North Sea, participating in demining operations and the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.

The participation of the sons and daughters of Western Armenia, including Mrs. Anita Conti, in World War II is just one example of the involvement of hundreds of thousands of Western Armenians who fought against Nazism. This represents a particularly high level of participation, considering the overall number of Western Armenians after the genocide.

Their memory was represented by ANACAS flag bearer Mr. Alain Palanjian, accompanied by the official delegation of the National Council of Western Armenia, including President Armenag Aprahamian and Vice President Lydia Margosyan.

The ceremony concluded with the laying of wreaths on the “Island of Remembrance” in honor of soldiers who fell on the battlefield under the French flag.

It should be noted that the memorial on the “Island of Remembrance” is an important place of memory for the people of Lyon, especially during May 8 commemorations.