Le Mémorial de l’OTAN
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Le Mémorial de l’OTAN
2736 Rue Principale - 62185 FRETHUN
Sieges, occupations, land, sea, and air attacks—Calais and its surrounding region are a land of remembrance. The duty to remember also applies to contemporary conflicts around the world. It is in Calais XXL that the only memorial in Europe dedicated to soldiers serving under NATO mandate who died in combat is located. The NATO Memorial is situated in Fréthun, a town bordered by a TGV station, a highway, and the Channel Tunnel. This memorial, inaugurated in February 2012, originated from the story of one man, Willy Breton. This non-commissioned officer of the National Gendarmerie returned from an overseas operation (OPEX) in 2010. He felt compelled to honor the memory of two soldiers killed in Afghanistan. The idea took root to create a memorial dedicated to soldiers who had sacrificed their lives in the service of NATO. The NATO Memorial, unique in Europe, was inaugurated in 2012. It is also a symbol of Friendship, Camaraderie, Reconciliation, Fraternity, and Peace. At its center, the NATO Memorial consists of two stelae, alongside which have been added German, Australian, Belgian, and Czech stelae, as well as one dedicated to animals. The NATO Memorial Federation is constantly developing initiatives to perpetuate its values and regularly organizes/sponsors cultural and sporting events in conjunction with other associations. It should be noted that every September, a Memorial Day is held in Fréthun. With its international scope, this differs from traditional national commemorations. While the commemoration at the Fréthun NATO Memorial has the required solemnity, it is also a unique event in the region due to the wide variety of uniforms present.
Origin and creation
The history of the memorial is inextricably linked to the commitment of Willy Breton. A non-commissioned officer in the National Gendarmerie, he championed this project to honor his comrades who fell in Afghanistan. Inaugurated in February 2012, this monument is now of international significance.
A symbolic monument
The architectural ensemble is structured around several key elements:
The central stelae: The heart of contemplation.
The journey of nations: Stelae representing Germany, Australia, Belgium and the Czech Republic.
Tribute to animals: Notably, a specific stele is dedicated to the animals that served during the conflicts.
An annual event: Memorial Day
Every year in September, the NATO Memorial Federation organizes "Memorial Day". This event has an international character, where many foreign delegations come together in an impressive variety of uniforms and flags.
