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Latest update: 12/11/2011
- France - French military - Nicolas Sarkozy
Armistice Day to be rededicated to all French war dead
Upon marking 93 years since the end of the Great War on Friday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that Armistice Day, which traditionally commemorates soldiers' lives lost during WWI, would now be dedicated to all of France's war dead.
By News Wires (text)
AP - France has decided to commemorate all of its war dead on Armistice Day -- a day previously reserved for remembering the soldiers who lost their lives during World War I.
President Nicolas Sarkozy presided over the traditional ceremony on Friday, which marks 93 years since fighting in the Great War came to an end.
He lay a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier under Paris’ Arc de Triomphe and lit a flame, but strayed from convention by declaring Nov. 11 a day to remember the dead from all of France’s wars.
The United States and Britain have already made a similar move. The U.S. now calls the day Veterans Day, and it is often referred to as Remembrance Day in Britain.
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Comments (3)
Remembrance Day
Although I'm proud of my service as a US Marine, it is unfortunate that the US, the UK, and now France have "nationalized" this day.
Remembrance Day
I really think this is a BZD move. I always go to the service here in France because it sticks to the original meaning of the day. I would NEVER attend such a ceremony in the UK because it has become a day to glorify the military rather than remember the poor CONSCRIPTED men that fell in the Great War. As a pacifist, I cannot condone this move.
Rememberance Day 11-Nov
All war is futile. Why do people have to fight each other ? Usually beacuse of politics or religion. Let's hope at least that England and France become even better friends and remain allies forever.
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