The Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood gave a rousing speech during a remembrance service in the French town of Fontenay-aux-Roses on Sunday.
Martin Heywood's speech was about the sacrifices of allied service men and women during the Second World War, and current situation in Afghanistan.
It was warmly welcomed by the people of the town, which has been twinned with Elstree and Borehamwood for 19 years.
Fontenay-aux-Roses' mayor, Pascal Buchet, made a speech that echoed Mr Heywood's, about the debt Europeans owe to earlier generations who fought for today's freedoms.
Harvey Defriend, from the Elstree and Borehamwood Twin Town Association, said: "Every year since we have been twinned the mayor has gone to France, or the French mayor has come over to Borehamwood. This year both mayors came together, and showed that they were singing from the same songsheet."
