The morning of the Patron Saints was created for the members of “Les Amis de La Martinerie” to continue the tradition of honoring the Patron Saint of their Arm, their Service or their professional occupation but, because of the diversity of our members, our board of directors has decided to celebrate all of them in a single event.

This event has been taking place since 2016. It begins with a mass in the Notre Dame des Ailes chapel in Diors, a chapel named in 1936 to honor the airmen of the La Martinerie camp.

The mass was celebrated by Father Loïc Jaouanet, who reminded us of the importance of the communion of Saints and congratulated the association for bringing them together. The mass was also enlivened by the choir of the parish of Notre-Dame de Déols under the direction of Odile Gilbert.

This mass, in the presence of 17 flag bearers, allowed our members to have a thought for all our former members who passed away this year and for all of the current members who are sick and could not make it that day.

The morning continued with a laying of wreaths at “la maison départementale de la mémoire militaire”, a place created and run by “Les Amis de La Martinerie”.

This traditional and intimate ceremony took place in the presence of Captain Jean-François Eurin representing the Military Delegate of the Indre department, Captain Hernandez representing Colonel Laurent Texier, commander of the Indre gendarmerie group, Mrs Florence Petipez representing Marc Fleuret President of the Departmental Council, of Michel Georgeon, representing Gil Avérous President of “Châteauroux Métropole” and Mayor of Châteauroux, of Mrs Delphine Geneste, Mayor of Déols and representatives of the Mayors of Diors and Montierchaume. General (er) Jean-Charles Bourrier, President of the Legion of Honor of the Indre department and Mr. Bertrand Giraud, President of the “Union Départementale des Médaillés Militaires” were also present. Several presidents from various associations were also present, accompanied by their own flag.

Of course, refreshments, offered by the association, closed this event.

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Photo credits: André Reignoux – Frédéric Niemier – Roland de Vassoigne – Jean-Jacques Bérenguier