By Editorial La Presse de la Manche
Published on
29 Apr 24 at 6:10
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The “Flame of Liberty”, which will pass through Sainte-Mère-Église (Manche), on May 13, 2024will be carried by 44 young people from Paris to Washington to United STATESpassing through the Brittanythere Sleeve and the Calvadosand the Britain.
This unique initiative is part of the commemorations from the 80e anniversary of the Landing in Normandy. It will end its journey on the D-Day beaches in Calvados, during the June 6 commemorations.
A tribute to Generals Patton and Leclerc
» This project was born from the shared memories of each of the two organizing associations carrying high the memory of either General Patton or General Leclerc de Hauteclocque. One is American, the other French. One is Californian with its extravagances and excess. The second comes from the old French aristocracy… “, explain the organizers.
These two men, seemingly completely opposite, will find themselves plunged into the heart of the turmoil and the tumult of the most dramatic events of the last century. Their character traits of these two heroes inspire the project “Flame of Liberty – Operation Mirror 2024.
The collection of the Flame of the Nation which has been burning since November 11, 1923 on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier under theTriumphal arch will be May 8.
It will be transported in a convoy, escorted by young people and by military vehicles in the colors of the 3e Patton’s army, via the Freedom Way from the village of Saint-Symphorien-le-Château.
The program
12 p.m.: Arrival at Sainte-Mère-Église. The bus will drop off the 44 young people at Place de la Chenevière, and they will walk to Place Pierre-Maury.
12:05 p.m.: Ringing of church bells. Start of the 44 runners with only 1 bearer of the Flame, who will run to Terminal Zero.
12:15 p.m.: Ceremony at Terminal Zero with laying of a wreath, with the participation of Veterans.
1:15 p.m.: Friendship Glass in the Sainte-Mère-Église village hall.
2:00 p.m.: Departure from Sainte-Mère-Église.
Transported by sea
44 young French people will accompany him on the 915 km between Paris and Cherbourg. These 44 young people selected are mostly under 23 years old, the age of soldiers having landed on our beaches on June 6, 1944. The Flame of the Nation will then travel by Sea route departing from Cherbourg on May 14 aboard the Galicia Ferry in destination to Portsmouth.
It will then be sent to Southampton to embark on May 16 for the United States, aboard the Queen Mary 2 which will reach New York on the morning of May 23, 2024. She will then take the road to the Arlington military cemetery in Virginia.
From our correspondent Madeleine HILL
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