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France celebrates Bastille Day
Parisians thronged the Champs-Elysees avenue Thursday for a military parade on Bastille Day, France's national holiday. In the mountains, the crowds cheered as one of their own snatched a moment of glory from Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France. In a solemn note, President Jacques Chirac stood with visiting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva outside the presidential palace observing two minutes of silence for the victims of the terrorist bombings in London. Sirens sounded across Paris.
"The terrorists have a different mentality," Chirac said. "There's not a single country in the world that's safe from terrorism, including France." "We have done everything we can to fight against terrorism," he said. Under brilliant sunshine, crowds jostled for a better view of the parade from behind security barriers on the chestnut-shaded sidewalks. Chirac kicked off the parade in an open jeep, reviewing forces standing at attention at the sides of the street. France's horse-mounted Republican Guard surrounded the jeep, trotting to keep up with the president on the 2.5-mile stretch from the Arc de Triomphe.
It was a day for displaying medals, and many participants seemed to have half their chests covered. Even the Alsatian dogs of the canine corps had medals — awarded for service in Kosovo — hanging from their special yellow tunics as they panted alongside their handlers in similar tunics. Wave after wave of military aircraft flew overhead, ranging from fighter jets leaving a stream of blue, white and red vapor — the colors of the French flag — to tankers and an AWACS surveillance plane. Silva was invited to the observances as part of "the year of Brazil in France," promoting economic and cultural ties between the French and the Latin American giant. A Brazilian military band and members of elite units of the Brazilian armed forces joined in the parade, a rare honor. They were joined by cadets from Brazil's Agulhas Negras, or Black Needles, military academy. A fly-by by seven Brazilian Tucano warplanes marked the end of the event.
Protecting the annual parade has been a high priority since a gunman tried to shoot Chirac in a July 14 motorcade in 2002. The president was unhurt, and the attempted assassin was sentenced in December to 10 years in prison. Police were stationed at intervals of several yards between the presidential Elysee Palace and the parade. After the parade Chirac hosted a garden party for 6,000 guests at the Elysee Palace. Besides political leaders and other prominent figures, invitees included soldiers and people in wheelchairs to underscore Chirac's campaign for the handicapped. In the summer warmth the beer stand was particularly popular, especially with members of the Foreign Legion. Capping the day for the French was a victory by countryman David Moncoutie in the 12th stage of the Tour de France bicycle race. Armstrong retained the overall lead in his bid for a seventh straight win in the 21-stage tour, but winning on Bastille Day has become sort of a French tradition. Moncoutie's win Thursday made him the 15th Frenchman since World War II to win on France's national holiday. It was his second stage win in five Tours. "It's fabulous," Moncoutie said. "I'm so happy to win. It's July 14th."
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