On Saturday, April 18, 2026, the traditional Patron Saints' Day took place; an event that, for the past three years, has been held in conjunction with the Foreign Legion ceremony commemorating the Battle of Camerone.
This day served a dual purpose:
On one hand, to honor, within the Notre Dame des Ailes Chapel in Diors, all the Patron Saints of the various branches, services, and professions represented within “Les Amis de la Martinerie”, and also to remember those members who have passed away since our last commemoration day.
On the other hand, to honor, through a wreath-laying ceremony, all the former military personnel and civilians who served at the Martinerie site since 1915 and who have, sadly, passed away; and to pay tribute to all Legionnaires through the retelling of the Battle of Camerone.
Together with Eric LAMBERT, President of the Legionnaires of the Indre department, we had the pleasure of welcoming Florence PETIPEZ, Departmental Councilor representing Marc FLEURET, President of the Departmental Council, and Gil AVEROUS, Mayor of Châteauroux; Ms. Delphine GENESTE, Mayor of Déols (our host municipality), who also represented Gil AVEROUS as President of “Châteauroux Métropole”; Captain EURIN, Deputy to the Departmental Military Delegate; and Commander HABASQUE, representing Colonel FAUGERE, Commander of the Indre Gendarmerie Group. We were also joined by the mayors, or their representatives, of the municipalities of Diors, Lucay-le-Mâle, Montierchaume, and Neuvy-Pailloux.
Numerous presidents of patriotic associations were also in attendance, accompanied by their standard-bearers; Didier THIERY, President of the Standard-Bearers' Association, was likewise present with a contingent of 22 standard-bearers, all of whom remain steadfastly loyal to our association.
In keeping with tradition, a reception, hosted jointly by the Legionnaires and “Les Amis de La Martinerie”, provided an opportunity for everyone to gather and reminisce.
At the start of this reception, the President took the opportunity to thank the officials, attendees, speakers, and association volunteers, notably Father Vincent JOYAU, Parish Priest of Déols; Jean-Marc VERRHIEST, Mayor of Diors; Marie HETZEL, Eliane LAMBERT, and Robert STEFFER for preparing the chapel and organizing the religious ceremony; Odile GILBERT and the members of the Sainte Marie de Déols parish choir; Eric LAMBERT (President) and the Legionnaires of the Indre department (and neighboring departments) for placing their trust in our association; and Didier THIERY, President of the Indre Standard-Bearers, who remain steadfastly by our side. He also extended his thanks to all the volunteers who dedicated their time and effort to preparing this tribute, whether by ensuring the site’s cleanliness, welcoming guests, organizing the ceremony itself, or arranging the reception hosted jointly by the Legionnaires and “Les Amis de La Martinerie”, including Bruno (for organizing the ceremony), Agnès, Chantale, Clémence, Dominique, Fabrice, Guy, Irène, Jean-François, Jean-Pierre, Jonathan, Martial, Roland, Yves, Xavier, and many others... as well as their spouses, without whom none of this would have been possible.
Several attendees took the opportunity during the ceremony to visit and explore the Departmental House of Military Memory (“la maison départementale de la mémoire militaire”).
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Photo credit: Dominique Roosens
