French nationals in Utah gather to comfort one another

SALT LAKE CITY — More than 100 French nationals and their American family and friends gathered Sunday to stand in solidarity and sing "La Marseillaise" as they mourn deadly terrorist attacks in Paris over the weekend.

Fabienne Vois, who has been living in Utah for the past year teaching at a French immersion school in Provo, linked arms with friends as they met for a vigil on the steps of the Utah Capitol. The French are a social people, she said, so meeting with others from her homeland has brought solace.

"I was mourning at home, and I would rather feel gathered with people, with French people and people who share our despair," Vois said.

During two vigils Sunday night at the Capitol, groups came with French flags, candles, balloons and homemade signs declaring "Je suis Paris" and "United." Vilia Kinsey, who addressed the group in both English at French at the second vigil, wept as supporters sang the country's national anthem.

"As Americans, we have felt what it is like to be attacked," said Kinsey, who was born in France and has spent much of her life in the United States. "As allies, we need to stand by them. We know what they are going through."

Gov. Gary Herbert released a statement authorizing flags across the state to be lowered Monday to honor the victims of the Paris attacks.

"Jeanette and I express our deepest sympathies to the victims in Paris and to all those who will feel the pain and loss from this tragedy for years to come. Through this small gesture, Utahns from across the state demonstrate that our hearts are united in support of the nation of France during this difficult time," Herbert said.

Remembering the attack earlier this year on the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris and now the coordinated terrorist strikes across the city Friday, Vois said she once again felt overcome with fear, sadness and anger.

"What these people want is for us to be afraid and to stop our way of life," Vois said. "The way of life in Paris is to sit outside in the cafes, to make small talk and share drinks with your friends, and to go to concerts. They want us to get rid of that, and we won't do that."

Mourad and Megan Jatioui, who lived for 10 years in France after they married, shared their concern for Mourad's relatives in and near Paris.

"There's worry for family who are there and the horror of it being so close to home," Megan Jatioui said.

The vigil allowed the group to find comfort together, Mourad Jatioui said.

"We have talked about the situation to try to feel better," he said. "We needed to talk and find a nice way to speak together."

Wendi Bergstrom, a French teacher at Fort Herriman Middle School, said she fell in love with France as a teenager and has spent the past several summers living there completing her master's degree.

As she lit a candle at the vigils, Bergstrom was also preparing to talk to her Utah students about the tragedy when school resumes Monday. She turned to Facebook groups over the weekend to contact other French teachers in the U.S. about the lessons they will share with their classes.

"We started collecting posts and things so that we can have teachable moments for our students on Monday," said Bergstrom, who has used the school's messaging system to invite her students to wear red, white and blue. "They want to be in class. They want to talk about it. They want to know."

Moving forward, Bergstrom emphasized her commitment to return to France and her hope that fear won't dissuade others, especially students, from visiting.

Bergstrom shared her appreciation for those who attended the vigils, several of whom she recognized from previous groups and get-togethers.

"We're a such a sweet, small group, the French-speakers in Utah and Salt Lake," Bergstrom said. "We're fiercely proud, and now more so."

Contributing: Sandra Yi, Nicole Vowell

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