A national ceremony will be held this week to allow the victims of the recent Paris attacks to be formally honoured by the French people. President Francois Hollande’s office have announced that he will personally preside over the special event on 27th November, with the chosen venue fittingly being L’Hotel National des Invalides.
Apt choice for ceremony
The choice of the spectacular gold-domed building in the centre of Paris seems particularly apt as its name translates as ‘The National Residence of the Invalids’. The tomb of their renowned general and former political leader Napoleon Bonaparte lies there and so it acts as a reminder of their past, with a military museum on site.
The complex of buildings also retains a connection to its original purpose, with hospital and retirement home facilities for war veterans. With much of the country still in mourning and trying to come to terms with their loss, it represents a striking symbol of France’s inner strength and their will to not only remember those who have fallen but to move on.
Ceremony was delayed
The ceremony will be held at 10:30 am (0930 GMT) in the courtyard of the internationally known landmark. Although the event could have been held earlier, it was decided to postpone the commemoration to allow more of the injured to attend should they so wish. At such a sensitive time for the families involved, the delay also allows funerals to be arranged and a time for mourning to be observed.
More pain and anguish to come
With the death count from the atrocities in Paris having reached 130 at the weekend and potentially rising still further given the numbers still critically ill, it is a bleak time for many Parisians. Many of those that survived but were injured are facing up to the uncertainty of further potential operations in the future.
Even once the physical injuries and scars have healed, those impacted may suffer the emotional turmoil from post-traumatic stress according to psychologists. They may experience depression and anxiety for several years to come as the memories of what they experienced remain still vivid in their thought processes.
Military action intensified
On the military front, President Hollande has been heavily involved in talks with other world leaders including the UK Prime Minister David Cameron in recent days.
With French air strikes in Syria and Iraq against the Islamic State militants set to intensify, their leader has confirmed that the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier is set to be utilised in the action to come.
Yet the spirit of the French people still seems to remain strong despite all that they have suffered. One hopes that the national ceremony helps to ease their pain while their military fights the battle against the terrorists.
