Cross of Lorraine. It was a symbol of the Resistance in WWII. Watch Casablanca.
Correct, I believe it does have multiple meanings, but for normal French people, it is a symbol from the WWII Resistance. So, if this is France, it probably just means that.
I agree with others. I think you are more typical than you think. Your story sounds exactly like mine. It amazes me sometimes the strange synchronicity that brought me here at exactly the right time.