Friday May 31 was an emotional day for Major Eric Bessou, commander of the Gourdon brigade. The time for retirement has come, he will leave the brigade on July 1st.
To celebrate his retirement, family, friends, colleagues, departmental and municipal elected officials came to Saint-Projet to show their attachment to the commander.
Lieutenant Jérôme Sans summarized the major’s career which began in 1988 in national service. The following year, he followed training to learn the profession of gendarme which he exercised for 36 years, with numerous assignments, Maisons-Alfort, Limoges, Pompon, Thio in New Caledonia, Prats-de-Mollon, Lauzerte. It was in 2018 that he commanded the Gourdon gendarmerie brigade until today.
Lieutenant Sans will conclude: “A serious, unifying, attentive soldier, who will have served his entire career with exemplarity, spontaneity and humor.”
Colonel Bertrand Loddé, commander of the Lot gendarmerie group, spoke: “I thank the many elected officials of the department, the soldiers of the Cie de Gourdon, the friends, for being present to share this moment full of emotion, since the major will be missed by all of us. I also have precious memories in common with the major since I commanded the Limoges squadron and I respectfully salute him for this very good career in the service of the army.
Éric Bessou, accompanied by his wife Fabienne and his children, very moved, addressed his thoughts to the missing comrades. He recognized a great void at the idea of no longer being around his friends and colleagues in the near future. Then deeply thanked all those present, those who came from far away and even very far away to exchange their friendship, friends with whom he spent very rich moments, friends, he would specify.
The major added: “I regret nothing about this career, I deeply love the men and women who serve our country with determination and commitment, they have given me a lot, I assure the young soldiers present that they serve a beautiful country. And I thank my family, because this job is done with his family. As for Gourdon, Jeannot, a friend, told me that this village was nice and that the food was very good there. It didn’t take much to convince me. I met mayors, elected officials, association leaders, all concerned and involved. They are real, deeply kind people, and I thank them for their courteous and constructive relationships. .”
The now retired confided that he will be in Duravel, where he will live surrounded by loved ones, and that if we needed an elected official in the municipality, it would not be without displeasing him.
A farewell drink brought together all the participants while farewell gifts were offered accompanied by countless flower bouquets.
