Commemorations on November 11, 2023 at the Arc de Triomphe with a visit from the French Patrol

Every November 11, France stands still to commemorate the Armistice of the First World War. This year, 2023, marks not only the 105th anniversary of the signing of the1918 Armistice, but also the centenary of the 1st lighting of the Flame of Remembrance. These moments of remembrance begin at 9:15 a.m. with several tributes in Paris, at Place Charles de Gaulle, and extend throughout the country.

The Arc de Triomphe, an emblematic site steeped in history, will be the setting for President Emmanuel Macron's tribute to the soldiers who fell for France. At precisely 11 a.m., the entire nation will observe a moment of silence as the President lays a wreath and rekindles the Flame.

The program of ceremonies in Paris is dense and commemorates various aspects of French history. At the Arc de Triomphe, 3 other ceremonies are scheduled for the day.

• At 9:15 a.m., a ceremony will pay tribute to the young Resistance fighters of 1940, presided over by Patricia Miralles, in the presence of Gabriel Attal and Prisca Thevenot.
  
  
• At 10:35 a.m., just before the main event, a tribute will be paid to Georges Clemenceau, a key figure in the Great War, at the foot of the Champs-Elysées.
  
  
• The day culminates at 6 p.m. with the Flame of Remembrance centenary ceremony, also presided over by Patricia Miralles. The program includes a video mapping projection, accompanied by music from the Paris fire department and the French army choir.

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The 11 a.m. ceremony under theArc de Triomphe remains the highlight of the day, a moment of national remembrance attended by the general public, political representatives and veterans. It's a sign of the continuity of the duty to remember, with the presence of young people, witnesses and guardians of this living memory.

Commemorations are also being organized in other Paris districts: they will take place at the Monument aux Morts in front of the Mairie du 10e and on the rear forecourt of the Mairie du 19e at 11 a.m., as well as at the Monument aux Morts of the Mairie du 3e / Paris Centre this Friday, November 10, 2023 at 10 a.m. The 3e / Paris Centre ceremony will be attended by local elected officials, veterans' associations, local schoolchildren and the French Army Choir.

Commemorations extend beyond the capital. Everywhere in France, local ceremonies are being organized so that everyone can pay tribute in their own way. This link between past and present, between memory and youth, between yesterday's sacrifices and today's respect, makes this November 11, 2023 a day charged with meaning, inviting reflection on the values of peace and freedom cherished by the Republic.

Find out more:

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