Procession passing the Doctor's car in Oradour
In this view the procession of the 68th anniversary commemoration ceremony is about to pass the Doctor's car resting on the Champ de Foire (fairground) in the ruins of the old village of Oradour-sur-Glane on their way to the church. The procession follows the same route every year, for a detailed time table see: How to get there and places to stay. It is noticeable how bright the colours of the procession are, in contrast to the lack of colour in the 'dead' village of Oradour.
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