The Old Legionnaire's Christmas
A story by Christian Morisot
The scene depicts the spot on the Vède River in front of the bridge where a kind of reservoir forms a natural pool... A group of young people arrive at this enchanting view. Opposite the Vède River, on the Vède estate, an old legionnaire calls out to them:
• Hey! What are you doing here, children? It's a dangerous place; you could fall in!
• But, sir, we're not doing anything wrong. Our parents always told us that when they were young, they used to come with their families to see the kind old legionnaires and even swim here in the Vède.
• Yes, but they came with their families and were supervised!
• We're not here to swim, sir. We've just come to see where "Bambi" was killed.
The scene depicts the spot on the Vède River in front of the bridge where a kind of reservoir forms a natural pool... A group of young people arrive at this enchanting view. Opposite the Vède River, on the Vède estate, an old legionnaire calls out to them:
• Hey! What are you doing here, children? It's a dangerous place; you could fall in!
• But, sir, we're not doing anything wrong. Our parents always told us that when they were young, they used to come with their families to see the kind old legionnaires and even swim here in the Vède.
• Yes, but they came with their families and were supervised!
• We're not here to swim, sir. We've just come to see where "Bambi" was killed.
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• Wait, children, I'll join you.
• Phew, here I am!
• You're an old legionnaire? • Yes, this is my home.
• You have a family, are your children here?
• Yes, I have my family here, the family of former legionnaires. The Legion is like a extended family that never abandons its elders, but I don't have children and no other family. I'll try to explain:
“When I was your age, and until I was 17 when I joined the Legion, my country only showed me war. War, my children, fortunately for you, is a great unknown outside of your games! Your fathers and grandfathers, like us old legionnaires, did everything so that today you, the children, would live free in a country where fear and hunger are not an unbearable daily reality.
I was sent to fight in Indochina. Indochina is very far away; look at your feet and the ground! Well, it's right beneath you if you dig a big hole through the earth—you're there!
The people there were wonderful, but there were some who wanted the French to leave the country, and for that reason, they chose to go to war.
Many of my dear comrades lost their lives there, a bamboo cross, a word, and a prayer. Where they died were what remained of magnificent soldiers.
• Wow! That must have been tough?
• Well, yes, sometimes it certainly felt a lot like what hell must be like.
After Indochina, I found myself in another war, a bit similar, in a country you must have heard of: Algeria.
There too, a war. Don't bother asking me why, I never really understood it, and even now you hear all sorts of conflicting opinions. Fifty years later, nobody agrees, so I don't want to understand or comment on it...
• Tell us, sir, why did the "Bad Guys" kill "Bambi"?
• Well, children, it's like our nativity scene was massacred. For us, it was the Holy Family with the Father, the Mother, and the baby—life itself!
• I hate them!
• We do too, but in life, you see, children, we've received so much and so much We've been so hardened that nothing surprises us anymore.
Beware of those who harm animals. We legionnaires, contrary to what some say, respect life and adore animals. Always remember that those who love animals love people!
Come, children, I'm going to show you something magical: our nativity scene.
The veteran then stood before the nativity scene with the children.
"Look, children, this nativity scene belongs to the veteran legionnaires of your town of Auriol."
"How beautiful it is!"
"It represents our Mother House in Aubagne, in front of the Garlaban mountain, so dear to Marcel Pagnol.
There stands a large monument to remember all those who have died in the service of France since the Legion was founded in 1831."
"A legionnaire, no matter where he is at Christmas, sets up his nativity scene, even in combat. Christmas is sacred and one of the most important holidays in the Legion." Legion.
For us, it is a symbol of love, hope, and brotherhood.
You children represent our future.
Always remember this visit to the veteran legionnaires, and later, tell your children in front of your nativity scene and Christmas tree: “Peace on earth to men of good will.”
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
• Thank you, sir. Merry Christmas to you too!
• Phew, here I am!
• You're an old legionnaire? • Yes, this is my home.
• You have a family, are your children here?
• Yes, I have my family here, the family of former legionnaires. The Legion is like a extended family that never abandons its elders, but I don't have children and no other family. I'll try to explain:
“When I was your age, and until I was 17 when I joined the Legion, my country only showed me war. War, my children, fortunately for you, is a great unknown outside of your games! Your fathers and grandfathers, like us old legionnaires, did everything so that today you, the children, would live free in a country where fear and hunger are not an unbearable daily reality.
I was sent to fight in Indochina. Indochina is very far away; look at your feet and the ground! Well, it's right beneath you if you dig a big hole through the earth—you're there!
The people there were wonderful, but there were some who wanted the French to leave the country, and for that reason, they chose to go to war.
Many of my dear comrades lost their lives there, a bamboo cross, a word, and a prayer. Where they died were what remained of magnificent soldiers.
• Wow! That must have been tough?
• Well, yes, sometimes it certainly felt a lot like what hell must be like.
After Indochina, I found myself in another war, a bit similar, in a country you must have heard of: Algeria.
There too, a war. Don't bother asking me why, I never really understood it, and even now you hear all sorts of conflicting opinions. Fifty years later, nobody agrees, so I don't want to understand or comment on it...
• Tell us, sir, why did the "Bad Guys" kill "Bambi"?
• Well, children, it's like our nativity scene was massacred. For us, it was the Holy Family with the Father, the Mother, and the baby—life itself!
• I hate them!
• We do too, but in life, you see, children, we've received so much and so much We've been so hardened that nothing surprises us anymore.
Beware of those who harm animals. We legionnaires, contrary to what some say, respect life and adore animals. Always remember that those who love animals love people!
Come, children, I'm going to show you something magical: our nativity scene.
The veteran then stood before the nativity scene with the children.
"Look, children, this nativity scene belongs to the veteran legionnaires of your town of Auriol."
"How beautiful it is!"
"It represents our Mother House in Aubagne, in front of the Garlaban mountain, so dear to Marcel Pagnol.
There stands a large monument to remember all those who have died in the service of France since the Legion was founded in 1831."
"A legionnaire, no matter where he is at Christmas, sets up his nativity scene, even in combat. Christmas is sacred and one of the most important holidays in the Legion." Legion.
For us, it is a symbol of love, hope, and brotherhood.
You children represent our future.
Always remember this visit to the veteran legionnaires, and later, tell your children in front of your nativity scene and Christmas tree: “Peace on earth to men of good will.”
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
• Thank you, sir. Merry Christmas to you too!