SENEGAL: PARATROOPERS CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF ST. MICHAEL - PATRON SAINT OF SOLDIERS.

Record ID: 425687

  • Title: SENEGAL: PARATROOPERS CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF ST. MICHAEL - PATRON SAINT OF SOLDIERS.
  • Date: 2nd October 1969
  • Summary: PARATROOPERS PARADING; SENEGALESE & FRENCH OFFICERS; CROWD; PARACHUTISTS STAGING DROPS, LANDING & GATHERING-UP CHUTE & EQUIPMENT; FRENCH AND SENEGALESE PARACHUTISTS RECEIVING CUPS. Initials LD/VS/MR/MJB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 17th October 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: THIAROYE, SENEGAL
  • Country: Senegal
  • Reuters ID: LVADCY4TUSH2RWIDTWFMZJ0TE1AK
  • Story Text: THE 29TH OF SEPTEMBER IS ST. MICHAEL'S DAY - "THE CAPTAIN OF THE HEAVENLY HOST" AND THE PATRON SAINT OF SOLDIERS. TO CELEBRATE THE "FETE DE ST. MICHEL" IN SENEGAL, LOCAL AND FRENCH PARATROOPERS AT THIAROYE STAGED TWO DAYS OF PARADES AND DEMONSTRATIONS OVER THE WEEKEND OF SEPTEMBER 27-28. HIGH-RANKING FRENCH MILITARY MEN JOINED THEIR SENEGALESE COUNTERPARTS ON THE REVIEWING STAND.

    THE CELEBRATIONS STARTED ON SATURDAY MORNING WITH A MARCH PAST BY UNITS OF SENEGALESE AND FRENCH PARATROOPERS. TAKING THE SALUTE WERE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SALIF SILEYE HANE AND FRANCE'S COMMANDER LAFITTE. COMMANDING THE SENEGALESE UNITS WAS CAPTAIN VICTOR BARRY.

    LATER, A LARGE CROWD WATCHED THE JUMPING DISPLAY BY COMPETING TEAMS FROM BOTH COUNTRIES.

    A SLIGHT WIND MADE THE COMPETITION MORE DIFFICULT AS THE PARACHUTISTS TRIED TO AIM FOR THE CROSS WHICH MARKED THE CENTRAL SPOT FOR THE LANDINGS. IT ALSO GAVE THEM TROUBLE AS THEY LANDED AND GATHERED THEIR CHUTES IN WHILE TRYING TO BLOCK THE EFFECTS OF THE WIND.

    AT THE END OF THE DAY, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL HANE PRESENTED A CUP TO THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BEST FRENCH TEAM. AND COMMANDER LAFITTE MADE HIS PRESENTATION TO THE BEST SENEGALESE TEAM.

    FOR THE OCCASION, THE PARATROOPERS' PRAYER WAS PUBLISHED, ENDING WITH: "GIVE ME, GOD, WHAT IS LEFT. GIVE ME WHAT YOU ARE REFUSED. GIVE ME WHAT OTHERS DON'T WANT. GIVE ME ALSO THE COURAGE, THE STRENGTH AND THE FAITH."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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