Tribute to the 2nd Armored Division in Saint-Martin-de-Varreville
Ceremony in tribute to the 2nd French Armored Division at the Leclerc monument in Saint-Martin-de-Varreville on 1 August 2016. Photo : C. Mary
August 1st, 2016: Tribute to the 2nd French Armored Division at Utah Beach
Information source: Ouest-France
They were few, just a handful of veterans, present, Sunday morning, at the Leclerc monument (Saint-Martin-de-Varreville, Editor’s note) for the 72nd anniversary of the disembarkation of the legendary August 1, 1944 2nd DB of General Leclerc. A ceremony tarnished by the disappearance of several veterans and that of Charles Leclerc de Hautecloque “which we already miss,” says the mayor, Gyslène Lebarbenchon. “He supported me in several difficult times. He encouraged me in my idea of limits of the Leclerc way. Today, 90 municipalities have a milestone of the 2nd DB. “
But in these times troubled by the attacks, it is also of values that were mentioned in the speech of the mayor. “The horror overwhelms us. Every year, the veterans remind us that General Leclerc taught them tolerance. What have we done with this inheritance? Everyone prays to his god, but let us do it together. Let us stick to these values, these are ours. The terrorists will not win.“
Ceremony in tribute to the 2nd French Armored Division at the Leclerc monument in Saint-Martin-de-Varreville on 1 August 2016. Photo : C. Mary
