18 June ceremony: Veterans unveil their new flag

On 18 June 1940, General de Gaulle called on the French people to resist the German occupation. This historic speech, broadcast on the BBC in London, continues to resonate far beyond the Old Continent. Since 2005, the Appeal of 18 June has been included by UNESCO on the Memory of the World Register, which lists documents of universal significance. It remains, to this day, a symbol of courage.

National memory and Saint-Martine identity

In Saint Martin, to mark this anniversary, following the speech by the State’s representative, Prefect Cyrille Le Vély, young people took centre stage. First, a schoolgirl read an extract from the speech delivered by General de Gaulle during the 18 June appeal, then another sang the Marseillaise to bring the ceremony to a close. The event was also marked by the unveiling of the new flag of the Saint-Martin Veterans’ Association. In recent years, the organisation has undergone significant changes. At the end of 2024, the departure of the incumbent president and the treasurer had weakened the organisation’s operations. Under the leadership of Jean Richard, the association’s current president, a new executive committee was formed to ensure its long-term viability.

An organisation undergoing a revival

“The association is rising from the ashes,” sums up Cyrille Mayet, the association’s vice-president. To mark this change, the members have adopted a new flag. “We sought to reflect both the identity of Saint Martin and to create a powerful symbol of the fighting spirit,” explains Cyrille Mayet. This symbolic flag thus highlights several of the island’s iconic features. Firstly, the hibiscus flower and the flamboyant tree reflect the richness of the local flora, whilst the pelican, an iconic figure of Saint Martin, represents its fauna. The ocean, the sun and the coastline, meanwhile, evoke the territory’s Caribbean roots. Finally, the Adrian helmet takes pride of place at the centre of this design. “It is an iconic helmet associated with the ‘poilus’ of 1914–1918 and, more broadly, with both world wars. Here, we have chosen to depict it in brown, like those worn by the French army in 1939–1945,” emphasises the vice-president. 

The old flag, created in 1998 when the association was founded, already featured the sun and the beach, as well as a three-masted ship. A symbol which, according to the current leaders, does not carry sufficient significance to represent the Saint-Martin institution. Today, the association has 23 members. Based in Marigot, the organisation continues its work to preserve the memory of the past and hopes to welcome new members. It is open to former military personnel, as well as civil servants such as police officers, customs officers and civilian staff.