The French National Day will pay tribute to the medical staff mobilized during the Covid-19 pandemic. A highly symbolic ceremony marked by national union and sub-European cooperation

France is celebrating on Tuesday the national day. In a statement issued on June 24, the French Ambassador in Romania, Michèle Ramis, emphasized the exceptional character of the national celebration that will take place tomorrow.

“The virus is still present and the indicators in Romania have even shown a rebound of the coronavirus pandemic since the lockdown came to an end. Certain restrictive measures remain, especially those referring to the gatherings. This will first affect the French celebration of July 14, which will consequently follow a symbolic format this year”
For the first time since the end of Second World War, the military parade will be replaced by a ceremony dedicated to the civilian and military staff in recognition of their sacrifices, of whom dozens have already died from Covid-19.

The French Defense Health Service, very active during the peak of the pandemic, will be honored. Beyond this service, the contribution of various army corps will also be highlighted. Among others: the construction of the military hospital of Mulhouse in less than 48 hours, the transfers of infected people by the air force, the transportation of medical equipment to metropolitan France and French overseas territories by the navy.

The second part of the ceremony will then pay tribute to the civilian medical staff who have been at the forefront of the pandemic. Thus, the French government will also honor those who worked behind the scene. Cashiers, nurses, dustmen, postmen who continued working during the quarantine despite the fear and the risks have been invited to attend the ceremony.

The minister of Defense stressed that the French National Day this year will be the one of “recognition” of the national medical staff but also of the “European friends who received French patients in their hospital, Germany, Austria, Luxemburg and Switzerland”. Therefore, these four countries will be the special guest of the ceremony, represented by their Health minister.

This special format is consistent with the numerous initiatives in France taken since March in favor of the medical staff. Each evening during the lockdown, people across France gathered at their windows and balconies to clap for the country’s health workers. Certain restaurants, closed, decided to prepare free meal baskets for the medical staff. Some hairdressers moved to hospital to give free haircuts to the covid-19 fighters, the “heroes” of France.

Note: Antoine Dewaest is working as an intern for G4Media, enhancing the understanding of the Romanian society. He is studying at Sciences Po Rennes, France.

Sources

Ministerul de război Franța, declarație oficială, 13/07/2020
Le Parisien, 14 Juillet et Covid-19 : le programme d’un défilé inédit place de la Concorde, 11/07/2020
Marianne, Coronavirus : pour ce 14 juillet, les Parisiens invités à rester devant leur télévision, 13/07/2020
Les Echos, Covid-19 : à quoi va ressembler la fête du 14 juillet ?, 13/07/2020

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