French teacher Dominique Bernard, stabbed to death in front of his middle school by a radicalized former student on Friday in Arras (Pas-de-Calais), was named knight of the Legion of Honor on Thursday, the day of his funeral.
Dominique Bernard, 57, is appointed to the rank of Knight of the Legion of Honor by the Presidency of the Republic, in a decree published in the Official Journal. He “first intervened, and undoubtedly saved many lives himself,” Emmanuel Macron said on the day of the attack.
Funerals placed under close surveillance
The city of Arras is preparing on Thursday to pay a final tribute to this professor, married to a teacher and father of three daughters who are now adults. The funeral, placed under close surveillance, will begin at Arras Cathedral at 10:00 a.m., in the presence of President Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte and the Minister of Education Gabriel Attal.
The death of Dominique Bernard on October 13, occurring almost three years to the day after the assassination of history and geography professor Samuel Paty, caused a wave of shock, particularly among teachers.