Monaco will mark the 81st anniversary of its liberation from German occupation on Wednesday, September 3, with a ceremony honouring Allied forces and local Resistance fighters. Among those taking part are five American members of the Association MonacoUSA, who will join Monegasque, French, and Italian citizens in a commemorative parade through the Principality.
The group, dressed in authentic 1944 U.S. military uniforms, will ride in restored World War II jeeps and vehicles along a route from Avenue Saint-Laurent to the Place du Palais, with stops at the Maison de France, the Conseil National, and the Mairie. Wreaths will be laid at each location to pay tribute to the liberators, Resistance heroes, and wartime victims. In a symbolic nod to the era, the Americans will hand out chocolate bars to residents, echoing the gestures of gratitude that followed the 1944 liberation.
Annette Ross Anderson, Director of MonacoUSA, said the occasion also carries personal meaning for many participants. “My father was a decorated U.S. sailor and Prisoner of War during World War II, and he would be proud to see his daughter honouring those who fought for Europe’s freedom,” she noted.
MonacoUSA Director Annette Ross Anderson
The day’s commemorations will conclude with an official ceremony at the Monaco Cemetery, where MonacoUSA members will lay a wreath at the war memorial and at the graves of Resistance figures René Borghini and Joseph Lajoux.
