Credit: Armée luxembourgeoise
On Wednesday 11 November 2026, the Luxembourg Army marked its patron saint's day, Saint Martin's Day, with a ceremony at the military centre in Diekirch, paying tribute to Martin of Tours, whose life embodies the values of generosity, courage, dedication and compassion.
According to the Luxembourg Army, his emblematic gesture – sharing his cloak with a poor man – remains a timeless symbol of concern for the most vulnerable. These values resonate with the daily commitment of Luxembourg military personnel, whether in preserving peace, ensuring collective security or supporting humanitarian missions, in cooperation with their allied partners.
Beyond tradition, this celebration is also an opportunity to strengthen ties between the Army and Luxembourg society. It serves as a reminder that fraternity, respect and mutual assistance are fundamental principles, both within the armed forces and in their mission to serve the community.
As part of the ceremony, General Claude Robinet presented the "Army Chief of Staff's Weapon of Honour" to Luxembourg military personnel as a reward for their excellent performance during their respective initial training cycles. Lieutenant Hermes was thus awarded the Sword of Honour, Sergeant Ansay the Dagger of Honour and Corporal Meier the Bayonet of Honour. By way of explanation, the award for career officer candidates takes the form of a sword, that for career non-commissioned officer candidates takes the form of a dagger and that for career corporal candidates takes the form of a bayonet.
Chaplain Lieutenant-Colonel Nicolas Wenner emphasised reason, moral conscience and empathy in his address: "We need to restore greater trust and solidarity between the countries and peoples of Europe, more humanity and mutual assistance. It is for such a Europe that our patron saint, Saint Martin, stands."
During his speech, Colonel Alain Schoeben, Commander of the Armed Forces, shared his reflections on the commitment of military personnel and civilian staff: "I congratulate the members of our Army on their solid conduct at national and international level, and I am proud to see that they are so highly appreciated during missions and exercises abroad. Ready to commit themselves and give their best!"
General Claude Robinet, Chief of Staff of the Luxembourg Army, recalled that integrity forms the very foundation of the institution: "On this Saint Martin's Day, I would like to highlight an essential pillar of my Lët'z DO IT compass: integrity, the foundation on which our Army rests. The trust that our members place in the institution, just as the trust that the nation places in us, is the basis of all our actions." He added: "Integrity is also the culture of our organisation, the values it embodies and the way each and every person upholds them on a daily basis. On this day dedicated to our patron saint, when people are at the heart of the celebrations, it is natural to recall that these values are our strength."
