France celebrated its biggest holiday on Monday with 7,000 people marching along the Champs-Elysees in Paris, accompanied by warplanes flying overhead, drone light shows over the Eiffel Tower, and fireworks in nearly every French town. The event marks a significant moment for modern France, celebrating democratic freedoms and national pride.
The celebration originated from the Storming of the Bastille fortress on July 14, 1789, which sparked the French Revolution and led to the overthrow of the monarchy. Over the centuries, France experienced numerous uprisings, wars, and power struggles before establishing the Fifth Republic in 1958.
This year’s event was notable for its international presence, with troops from Indonesia, Finland, Belgium, and Luxembourg participating in the parade alongside French military units. The occasion also honored special guests, including Fousseynou Samba Cissé, a Paris man who saved two babies from a burning apartment earlier this month.
French President Emmanuel Macron used Bastille Day to emphasize the importance of defending European freedom and security against new threats from Russia and terrorism. He announced an additional €6.5 billion in military spending over the next two years to address these concerns.
The celebration also recognized notable individuals, such as Gisèle Pelicot, a global hero for her advocacy on behalf of victims of sexual violence, and Yvette Levy, a Holocaust survivor and French Resistance fighter. Family gatherings, firefighters’ balls, and rural festivals are also part of the festivities that take place across France throughout Bastille Day.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/france-bastille-day-parade-macron-prabowo-039dc7acac781e155ff0ad69e73acf0a