MARIGOT--Elected officials, members of the St. Martin War Veterans Association and Junior Territorial Council members celebrated the 72nd anniversary of Fête de la Victoire at a ceremony in the garden of Hotel de la Collectivité on Monday.
The occasion marks the victory of the Allies over Nazi Germany on May 8, 1945, that prompted the surrender of Germany and brought an end to the Second World War.
Wreaths were laid at the foot of the war memorial by Préfète Déléguée Anne Laubies, Senator Guillaume Arnell, President of the Collectivité Daniel Gibbs and President of the St. Martin War Veterans Association Robert Garron.
Assisting with the wreath laying were First Vice-President of the Junior Territorial Council Jerry Hodge and Kristy Apatout, Third Vice-President in charge of communications.
A message of remembrance from the Secretary of State to the Minister of Defence was read out by Préfète Laubies.
In a separate ceremony that followed, war veteran Loïc Wendlant received two decorations at the hands of Commandant of the Gendarmerie of St. Martin and St. Barths Sébastien Manzoni and Préfète Laubies; La Croix du Combattant and the Medaille de la Reconnaissance de la Nation.
