Flags in the Mist

Every year the collective Anciens Combatants associations in this little corner of France gather at the German War Cemetery just outside Saintes in remembrance of the German soldiers killed during WW2. This year both German and French national anthems were sung by the local air base cadets, followed by a traditional song for the old soldiers. Very moving it was too. It was attended by the German Consul from Bordeaux and the Prefet from La Rochelle. The mist made the atmosphere even more poignant. Extra pic is of the gravestones, laid flat with four names per stone.  Following the ceremony, we all moved en bloc to a nearby town where the process was repeated at the memorial to the French who died in both World Wars.  The local French sparkling wine and cakes were very welcome in the Village Hall afterwards.