Tribute at the memorial to the dead of the World Wars in Oradour
The church of Oradour-sur-Glane new village is just to the right of this view of the tribute / wreath laid on the 68th anniversary of the massacre at the memorial to the military dead from the Oradour area of both World Wars (by far the largest number of them from World War I). The laying ceremony was quite brief and then the procession moved on to walk down the Rue Emil Desourteaux in Oradour old village (the ruins) in order to visit the old church: see the village plans of both the new village and the old village for more details.
As an example of the timing of events for the commemoration of the massacre, here is the program for the 68th anniversary, held on Sunday June 10th 2012.
14:00 ... Mass in the Catholic new church of Oradour-sur-Glane
15:00 ... Reception of the personalities and other participants in the Town Hall
15:15 ... The procession leaves the Town Hall
15:30 ... Laying of the wreaths at the monument for the children at the school
15:45 ... Laying of the wreaths at the monument for the dead of both World Wars
16:15 ... Laying of the wreaths in the old church of Oradour-sur-Glane
16:25 ... A minutes silence held on the fairground of the old village of Oradour-sur-Glane
16:35 ... Laying of the wreaths at the memorial to the dead of Oradour in the cemetery
17:00 ... End of the ceremony
© Michael Williams: July 2012