Grand Duke Guillaume paid his first official visit to the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) centre in Gasperich on Wednesday, where he presided over a ceremony that celebrated two important milestones for the CGDIS.
The centrepiece of the occasion was the official presentation of a new CGDIS flag to Fire and Rescue Corps Director General Paul Schroeder. The flag, which will be carried at all major CGDIS ceremonies going forward, symbolises the identity and unity of the organisation and serves as a symbol of recognition for the work carried out by Luxembourg's rescue and emergency services. It incorporates a range of symbols and details reflecting the history, mission and values of the CGDIS, Schroeder explained.
The CGDIS has also revised its charter of values, defining four new principles that underpin the work and community of its firefighters: commitment, professional attitude, reliability and solidarity.
The ceremony also celebrated an important change of command at the CIS Luxembourg CIty, the capital's fire department. After 35 years of service and involvement in over half a million deployments, Colonel Serge Heiles will retire on 1 June. He will be succeeded by Annick Baustert, who will become the new head of the Luxembourg City fire department. She will be supported in the role by Chris Monzel, the new deputy head of the centre, and both were officially presented with their insignia at the ceremony.
