Procession along the Rue Emil Desourteaux towards the old church in Oradour
In this view the procession for the 68th anniversary commemoration is on the Rue Emil Desourteaux heading towards the old church in the ruins, having left the W.W.II. memorial in Oradour-sur-Glane new village and entered the ruins via their old northern entrance. At this time they were about to reach the junction with the old road to St. Junien (out of sight in the foreground on the left), the large building to the right was the old Post Office. Note the presence of the children leading the adults: see the old village plan for more location detail within the ruins.
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