70 years of honor for Notre Onias

A poster announcing the celebration of Onias Martin
Photo: Nick McCrea, Bangor Daily News

  1st LT Onias Martin was from Madawaska, Maine he died on a country road in Bonnetable, France in 1944 - he is their hero, a liberator from the Nazi Occupation.  He landed at Normandy with the 5th Armored Division, United
States Army and his division was pushing through France toward Germany.  An enemy bullet ended his life on the dusty road.  He was buried by the local people - he was their hero, he still is.
  The French people made a memorial of a wooden cross with his helmet, when that started to fall apart the village built a stone monument around the original; it still stands in his honor.
  This past August his American family joined with French and American dignitaries to honor him on the 70th anniversary of his death.  His only living brother Raynauld Martin was able to attend.  It was a celebration of Notre (our) Onias.
  Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/slideshow/notre-onias-70-years-later-french-villagers-honor-maine-soldiers-singular-sacrifice/

Raynauld Martin pauses at the monument
Photo: Nick McCrea, Bangor Daily News