“These students are a guard of honour for the flags entrusted to us,” rejoices Philippe Brun, music teacher at Champfleury College in Avignon.
Since last November, the teacher has opened the “flag-bearers’ school” within the Champfleury Institution. This free-time option currently brings together nearly thirty students of all levels, from 6th to 3rd grade.
The objective of this project is to teach this new generation how to handle flags and wreaths during official ceremonies.
“Giving time to others for free”
These young ones, “volunteers and friendly people, who learn to give their time to others, for free“, have already participated in several ceremonies.
They thus took their first steps alongside the association of deportees, internees, resistance fighters and patriots (Adirp), last February at Agricol-Perdiguier square, during the tribute to the Manouchian and the 23 of their group of Resistance fighters.
During this first ceremony, around ten college students carried the flags, while five others accompanied the laying of wreaths. Philippe Brun’s students then took part in the 109th commemoration of the Armenian genocide, in April, and in the May 8 ceremony.
More recently, some participated in a citizens’ day organized in Paris by their teacher. They had the opportunity to visit the King’s Pavilion at the Château de Vincennes, which contains all the French military flags. Enough to fill these adolescents with happiness who dedicate their time to the duty of memory.
