Every year at 11:00 on November 11th -- "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" -- a ceremony is held at the Arc de Triomphe to commemorate the armistice that went into effect between the Allies and Germany in 1918 that resulted in a ceasefire and ultimately the ending of World War I. The President of France places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe, bands play, and soldiers march.
We made our way this morning to the Champs-Élysées to see what we could. There were large video screens and speakers so we could see and hear some of the ceremony. We were also able to see French President François Hollande as he walked around greeting dignitaries and later as his motorcade made its way down the Champs. The kids were especially excited about this -- "I saw the President!" exclaimed Clay.
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| Presidential motorcade |
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| Quick view of Hollande as he passed by |
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