Bastille Day Parade

Bastille Day Parade

News: During his visit to France, PM Modi attended Bastille day and was also conferred with France’s Highest civilian honor – The Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.

What is the Bastille day Parade? What significant does it hold?
• Bastille Day parade is a French military parade that is held every year on the morning of 14 July in Paris, to commemorate the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress in 1789, which marked the beginning of the French Revolution.
• The parade passes down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde, where the President of France stands with other dignitaries and guests.
• This year the parade featured Indian soldiers marching with French troops, as well as Rafale fighter jets that India bought from France in 2015.

What is the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour?
• The Legion of Honour is the highest French decoration given to the most deserving citizens in all fields of activity.
• Established by former French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Legion of Honour is divided into five degrees (lower to higher) – Knight, Officer, Commander, Grand Officer and Grand Cross. The PM was awarded the fifth honour.
• The colour of the ribbon is red and the badge is a five-armed Maltese asterisk hung on an oak and laurel wreath. On the obverse is the effigy of the Republic and on the reverse two tricolour flags surrounded by the motto ‘Honor and Fatherland’ written in French.
•  Although the membership to Legion of Honour is restricted to French nationals, foreign nationals who serve France or uphold its ideals may also be given a distinction of the Legion.
• Other personalities who received this honour include former South African President Nelson Mandela, King Charles – the then Prince of Wales, Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Former United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.