"The Parisians have to live with this ... they have to continually live it." He said people didn't appreciate what they had until it was gone, and people had to try to preserve what they did have.
"That's what the Parisians are trying to do now, and that's why we need to support them."
The attacks had changed the way he felt about New Zealand.
"We think we live in a safe environment, but we've got to be vigilant," he said. "I'm aware now that it could happen - even though we all think it's never going to happen."
Mr Franklin said he was angry with the terrorists and thought they were nothing but criminals who hid behind religious labels. The attacks had also made him realise how proud he was to be a New Zealander and to live in the country. Before arriving back in Hawke's Bay yesterday morning, Mr Franklin travelled through increased security in four different airports.
The atmosphere was "tense" and there were groups of soldiers walking around the airport with machine guns.
The atmosphere in Paris was still sombre and, though the number of people on the streets was increasing, no one was smiling or laughing.
He said during the three-day period of mourning the vibrancy of the city disappeared and the underlying stresses of living in a city of 2 million were revealed.
"On Saturday night I went to get a meal and everyone was looking at each other trying to measure up the situation," he said. "Every time there was a police car people looked like they were thinking "is this happening again?"
The support he had received from family and friends had been incredibly important to him. While they begged him never to go back to Paris, he said he would one day.
"I'll need a while to reflect before I do", he said.
"The memories are too painful right now, too raw." -French honour vets, p7-Two dead in
Paris standoff, p35
