Les Amis du Dixmude continue their beautiful memorial adventure

Created in 1992 by l'abbé Aubert, Robert Tissier, Roger Lelong and Étienne Ducreux, all now deceased, the association remains very active in the local community life. Since 2016, Daniel Baert has been running it following the resignation for health reasons of Pierre Saulnier, his predecessor. "Like every year, the general assembly brings together the members (33), several of whom live outside of the Var. Thus, some cannot travel. They are notified by mail of the association's activities. This annual assembly took place, as always, in a good atmosphere with the presence of many guests and partners. The assembly remains an important moment and an opportunity to meet our partners," says the president. After the tribute to deceased members, the reports were presented by the board members and unanimously approved. The elected officials thanked the association for the perpetuation of its memorial actions. The board was re-elected for 3 years (Daniel Baert, president, Françoise Thomas, secretary and flag bearer, and Alain Maurin, treasurer and deputy flag bearer).

What were your activities in 2024?

After 2023, the year in which we commemorated the 100th anniversary of the disappearance of the Dixmude, 2024 was calmer. Our temporary exhibition has become permanent at the Espace Tradition de l'Aéronautique navale (ETAN) in Hyères and we were present at the various commemorations with our flag bearers.

Tell us about this exhibition?

It is located within the ETAN in a room dedicated to the Dixmude. It presents models, documents, and objects related to the airship and the sailors. Our partners are former sailors of the Aéronavale.

In 2025, what is your roadmap?

I was re-elected president for 3 years and we are starting again with the same team for this beautiful memorial adventure. This year, we will continue our partnership with the ETAN through visits to our exhibition. We will participate, as we do every year, in the events of the Marine nationale with patriotic and memorial associations. We have been invited by the Municipalité de Cuers to participate in 'Ça plane pour Cuers' in August 2025. I have also proposed a visit to the ETAN. Finally, the month of December 2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the laying of the first stone of the monument erected in memory of the missing sailors of the Dixmude. With my team, we are going to start preparing for it.

IN THE PRESENCE OF:

• Patrick MARTINELLI, mayor of Pierrefeu-du-Var, accompanied by his deputy mayors • Véronique LORIOT and Marc BENINTENDI and Michel HAINIGUE, municipal councilor, • Jean-Claude Le TALLEC, deputy mayor of Solliès-Pont, • Lieutenant AMOSSE (gendarmerie de Pierrefeu-du-Var), • Colette CATENI (Souvenir Français), • Nadine RINALDI (Médaille militaire), • Yves LOPEZ and Nicolas SPINA (Anciens combattants), • Frédéric DEJARDIN (Espace patrimonial de l'Aéronautique navale), • Nicolas MOULIN of ACSPMG (Histoire et patrimoine de la Gendarmerie).