The Colour Party and Guard of Honour at Oradour
For the 70th anniversary of the massacre at Oradour-sur-Glane, a Colour Party and Guard of Honour were provided by the French Army's 126th Regiment. This group stood in position for nearly two hours, the Colour Party especially stood at attention throughout without any relief at all (the Guard of Honour were allowed to take turns off in order to take a drink of water, but not the Colour Party). What they were waiting for was the appearance of the French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls and the Junior Minister for Veterans and Defence, Kader Arif. Valls was to make a speech from the gazebo and everyone had to await for his (delayed) arrival. Notice the children lining the (too short) vivid green carpet laid on the grass.
© Michael Williams: June 2014