The Red All Saints' Day marked the beginning of the Algerian War, an eight-year period synonymous with violence and human tragedy for repatriates and harkis. In memory of those left behind when they departed their native land, candles were placed before the monument erected in the heart of the cemetery.
“"Your memory has remained the same over the years. Intact. Still painful, never selective."
The mayor of Vendargues, Guy Lauret, emphasized the importance of remembering 130 years of presence and eight years of heartbreak, as well as the difficulties encountered upon arrival in mainland France.
He concluded by stating that "the duty of remembrance is the prerogative of responsible and civilized people. The prerogative of those wounded by the loss of a loved one. The prerogative of those who built something and abandoned it, constrained and forced." The ceremony was attended by elected officials Jérémy Garcia, Max Rascalou, and Jean-Claude Salas.
