23/10/2025
“Orléans Historical Tour” and “On the trail of General George Patton”
On Monday, October 13, 2025, the American participants in the 5th USA-France Intercountry Positive Peace Seminar were given a Historical Tour of Orléans and a special tour in an American jeep to trace the route of the Allied forces as they defeated the Germans in Orléans, narrated by the granddaughter of General George Patton, Helen Patton. The markers commemorate the liberation of France by the Allied forces, particularly the route of General Patton's Third Army (Voie de la Liberté). The stone posts, or bornes, are topped with a blue band of 48 white stars (representing the 48 U.S. states in 1944) and a red torch of liberty with the flame blowing eastward. The commemorative route was inaugurated in 1947.
The morning began with a tour of the historical area of Orléans, including Hotel Groslot (The Renaissance-style Hôtel Groslot was built between 1530 and 1550 as a private mansion for lawyer and bailiff Jacques Groslot; it became Orléans' city hall during the Revolution.), the Cathedral and Place du Martroi, where a statue of Jeanne D’Arc rests (In 1425, at the young age of thirteen, voices spoke to a French teenager named Joan telling her to provide aid to Charles VII of France in his plight against the English during the Hundred Years’ War. Mounted on her steed, this teenage girl led the French forces to drive the English troops out of Orleans.). After lunch, we met back at Hotel Groslot where Rotarian Armando DE OLIVEIRA welcomed us and introduced Anne-Marie ROYER-PANTIN (Orléans historian) and Helen PATTON, granddaughter of General George PATTON. Both gave us some history of the liberation of Orléans and then we drove to each of the 4 markers tracing the route of the liberation of Orléans. Participants rode in an original American jeep owned by Patrick Sautot. He is both the president of the Chapter of Orléans of the France United States Association (https://www.france-etatsunis.org/chapter-dorleans/)and the president of the regional MVCG (Military Vehicle Conservation Group) (http://www.mvcgorleans.fr/). Participants placed an olive branch at each marker and we all placed a peace flower at the fourth marker. We ended back at City Hall, where historian Anne-Marie ROYER-PANTIN, Isabelle BOURRÉE, VP of OWNOLA, Association Orléans Wichita NOLA, and Helen PATTON provided us with some more history. In attendance was Stéphane Gruenberg, diplomatic advisor in Centre-Val de Loire. Wichita, KS is twinned with Orléans because of the preponderance of liberating soldiers were from Wichita.
We then met back with our host families for a reception at Hotel Groslot, where we were greeted by Deputy Mayor, Florent MONTILLOT, who is quite a character. Alain BROUSSAUD, a member of the Rotary Club of Saint Bernoit sur Loire and local master organizer for the event in Orléans, also welcomed us to District 1720 and introduced Jean-Marie POINSARD and me to say a few words, as well as Helen Patton. Helen presented Armando DE OLIVIERA, Florent MONTILLOT and me with replica dog tags of soldiers from WWII, fabricated by the Patton Foundation. Champagne, wine and hors d’oeuvres followed.
https://youtu.be/dXejSKtcGDM
“Orléans Historical Tour” and “On the trail of General George Patton” On Monday, October 13, 2025, the American participants in the 5th USA-France Intercou...
