Last modified: 2010-01-30 by ivan sache
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Veterans' (anciens combattants) associations use ceremonial flags that have a common design.
These flags are usually a French tricolor flag with
writings (usually the name of the association) and an emblem related
to the association (for instance, the Cross of Lorraine for associations
related to the Free French Forces).
Such associations exist at different levels (national, regional,
municipal, professional...). Several of them have recently extincted after the death of their last member. In such cases, the flag is either (ceremonially) buried with the last member or offerred to a local museum,
municipality, etc.
Ivan Sache, 19 September 2009
Standard-bearer's good practices
Commandant Constantin Lianos, President of the AALE (Amicale des Anciens de la Légion Étrangère, Marseilles) has reviewed the good practices for standard-bearers. I am extracting from the review the most salient recommendations concerning the flags.
The shoulder-belt must be placed on the right shoulder, to avoid masking the official decorations (which are placed on the left). The staff of the flag shall be taken with the right hand (like a gun).
In official parades, the standard-bearers shall form a row, of two to four, depending on the local configuration (especially the width of the street). Precedence shall be set up according to the emblems' decorations (National orders > War Cross > Veterans' associations > Other associations) and not to the personal merit of the standard-bearers. The standard-bearers shall always march after the band, except if the band is part of the ceremony as a unit.
In ceremonies in war memorials, the standard-bearers shall arrive in procession, stand on the sides of the monument and salute it. They shall also salute after the Last Post and at the end of the ceremony. They shall leave in procession. The flags shall never be packed in front of a monument but at some distance of it.
For religious ceremonies, the standard-bearers shall ask the celebrant
about where they shall stand. The standard-bearers shall form a guard
of honour at the entrance of the sanctuary and then follow the
authorities welcomed by the celebrant. The standard-bearers shall
salute the altar in the beginning and end of the ceremony and, for
Christian celebrations, during the Elevation. The standard-bearers
shall form again a guard of honour for the exit of the sanctuary,
unless a parade is immediatly scheduled.
In funerals, the standard-bearers shall proceed as described above,
marching after the coffin. They move as close as possible to the
coffin during the absolution and march behind the coffin for the exit,
forming a guard of honour to the hearse and saluting the defunct. In
some instance, the standard-bearers leave the sanctuary before the
coffin and salute three times. If they are present in the cemetary,
they shall form a guard of honour around the tomb and salute after the
prayers.
The standard bearers shall salute only:
- the President of the Republic;
- the military colours;
- the Last Post and in ceremonies, as described above.
In funerals, the black cloth covering the coffin can be replaced by a Tricolor cloth. Originally granted to the holders of the Combatant's Card or of the Volunteer Combatant of the Resistance's Card, this privilege was extended to the holders of the titre de reconnaissance de la nation (soldiers and civilians who have participated for at least 90 days to a conflict) and to the réfractaires au STO (the civilians who refused to work in Germany during the Second World War).
The most recent emblematic use of a Tricolor cloth on a coffin occurred on 17 March 2008 for the national funerals of Lazare Ponticelli, the last French combatant (poilu) of the First World War, deceased on 12 March 2008 at the age of 110, "echoing" the national funeral of General de Gaulle in November 1970.
Ivan Sache, 21 June 2008
Standard-bearer's honour diploma
The Standard-bearer's honour diploma was created by amended Ministerial Decree from the Ministre des Anciens Combattants, dated 26 July 1961. Terms of awarding were modified in 1978 and are currently prescribed by Ministerial Order dated 19 December 1986.
The applicants should fulfill the following requirements:
The application shall be proposed either by:
Review of the applications shall be made by the departemental
service of the National Office for War Veterans and Victims.
The diploma shall be delivered on behalf of the State Secretary
for the ex-servicemen and war victims.
The list of the honour diploma holders shall be published in the
Official Bulletin of Decorations, Medals and Awards.
Ivan Sache, 15 October 2001