The solemn ceremony was attended by elected officials, representatives from neighboring towns, veterans, flag bearers, gendarmes, association representatives, children, and residents. Students from CM1 and CM2 at Germaine Maître school read poignant letters from soldiers of the Great War. The Young Municipal Council participated in the wreath-laying ceremony.
The association Cool’heures de chant performed Florent Pagny's "Le Soldat." Mayor Nicolas Le Cheviller's speech highlighted Villaudric's history during WWI, including a temporary 25-bed hospital set up in the boys' classroom in 1916, partly funded by the local festival.
The mayor emphasized how the war disrupted daily life, sharing an anecdote about children attending school at the local café. He praised the village's adaptability and organization in facing the circumstances.
On the 110th anniversary of the Battle of Verdun, three Villaudric soldiers who died in 1916 were remembered: Jean-Joseph Bessières (corporal, died at 20), Antonin Camboulives (gunner, died at 33), and Léon Timbal (sergeant, died at 24, awarded the Croix de guerre). These stories recall the sacrifice of the 35 Villaudric residents lost in WWI.
The mayor drew a parallel between generations, noting that children of the past left school for wounded soldiers, while today's children keep their memory alive, stressing the importance of transmission. He reminded attendees that the names on the war memorial represent men with families and ties to the village.
The municipality extended warm thanks to veterans, flag bearers, neighboring elected officials, the Fronton gendarmerie, teachers, students, the Young Municipal Council, the association Cool’heures de chant, and all participants. The ceremony concluded with a reception offered by veterans at the Espace Jean-René Chabanon.
