bleu blanc rouge for bastille day

by Sharon Santoni

Here in France, we love our bank holidays.   The month of May is the best because on a good year, when the planets align, we may get four in just one month.

But now we are in July.  The school children are on holiday, the weather is warmer and the atmosphere quite different.   And of course the 14th July is Bastille Day with all that that involves.

Bastille Day is the bank holiday that has the most family feel to it.   In small towns, there may be village parties, in others you’ll find the traditional Party at the Fire Brigade, yep!

But the biggest event on the Bastille Day calendar is the military parade down the Champs Elysees in the heart of Paris.   A huge tricolor flag hung beneath the Arc de Triomphe, and two hours of fascinating military precision as the President reviews his troops.

Although I’m not from a military family, I do love this parade.   I am mesmerised by the accuracy and precision of the planning which allows tanks, cavalry regiments, soldiers on foot or policemen on motorbikes to follow each other down the avenue to drive past the President and his guests.   There is also a fly past of jets, carrier planes and helicopters and this year, in celebration of American troops supporting France in the first world war, there were American regiments and planes too.

 

I know this isn’t the sort of thing I normally talk about on the blog, but in these troubled times, when so many young men and women around the world sign up to the military to keep us all safe, I love that they are honored in this way.  We should all remember to take a moment to thank them for their service.

 

Happy Bastille Day to you my friends, thank you for reading me.

18 comments

Irene G Peterson July 14, 2017 - 7:49 pm

My thoughts and prayers are will the military for all that they do for us. Thank you for the reminder.

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Kathy Forehand July 14, 2017 - 7:57 pm

A lovely post…and reminder. Happy Bastille Day to all!
❤️

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Vicky from Athens July 14, 2017 - 7:54 pm

Topping off the Bastille Day celebrations, a Frenchman won today’s stage of the Tour de France! How appropriate!!
I, too, love a military parade. It fills me with such pride in my country.

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Cathy July 14, 2017 - 8:44 pm

Having just visited Paris for the first time in May (and fell in love!), I can imagine how wonderful the parade must have been, Viva la France!

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Katzcradul July 14, 2017 - 9:51 pm

Viva la France!

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Susan July 14, 2017 - 10:06 pm

A patriotic parade always makes me tear up.
Happy Bastille Day!
I would love to be in France to witness this event.

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Botanic Bleu July 14, 2017 - 10:11 pm

Sharon,
One year I was fortunate enough to be in Paris when the Tricolore was flying in the Arc de Triumphe. It was such an impressive sight that made me catch my breath. I could not look away, but kept looking back at it.

I discovered this week when I was putting together my Bastille Day post that Lafayette gave American President George Washington the key to the Bastille in 1790. The key is still on display at Mount Vernon, Washington’s home.

Happy Bastille Day. liberté ~ égalité ~ fraternité

Judith

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Sandra July 14, 2017 - 10:41 pm

A beautiful post. Happy Bastille Day.

Sandra

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Anna July 14, 2017 - 10:42 pm

I’ve never replied to a post, but this one touched me the most… I am an American with a son who served in the Air Force and daughter currently in the Navy and we, as a family, honor all military for their sacrifice and commitment to their country.

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Margo July 14, 2017 - 11:02 pm

Thank you for this post, it deeply touched my heart. I would love to experience Bastille celebration person, but was represented very well. I love America and I love France

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Shari July 14, 2017 - 11:04 pm

Happy Bastille Day, and thank you France for supporting us in our war of independence! Good friends for more than 200 years.

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Lorrie July 14, 2017 - 11:09 pm

Remembering those who serve is a lovely thing to celebrate. Vive la France!

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tracy brown July 14, 2017 - 11:16 pm

I tear up as soon as the first drum sounds…cry at every parade. I think it’s the working together for a common goal that tugs at my heart. Such a precious thing to see. Absolutely love the flowers!

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Ellie Ramsay July 15, 2017 - 1:07 am

Sharon, You say it so well. Thanks Ellie B&Txx

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Dominique Clement July 15, 2017 - 8:44 am

Merci Sharon de montrer une si belle image de la France. C’est mon pays et chaque jour je bénie le ciel d’y vivre aussi merveilleusement bien.

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Emm July 16, 2017 - 2:41 am

I was in Normandy this past winter, farther west than where you are, nearer the beaches. The people there still remember the British and the Americans who came to their aid in 1944, and their kindnesses brought me to tears more than once.
France was the first major ally of the fledgling United States, and the connection is still strong.

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Terry July 16, 2017 - 9:53 am

I don’t usually comment but I always appreciate and enjoy your thoughtful and beautiful posts..thank Thankyou!

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Sue July 26, 2017 - 12:36 am

As an American I just want to say thank you to your country for honoring the memory of what the Americans did during that war. Wow I sometimes feel we Americans are so hated by the entire world, that to hear this memorial celebration includes the Americans is wonderful. I had family in that war and probably in those troops. I think it is wonderful to that your troops are honored this way. What a lovely parade.

My husband and I make a point of telling every service man we encounter “Thank you for your service.” when we see them because we appreciate that we are a free people because of the courage they have to serve. When I pray for the American servicemen/women I will include the brave service personnel of France too.

Thank you for this post. It was very informative and heartwarming. God bless.

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