PARIS DECEMBER 5 2004

AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR OUR REGIMENT WAS THE PRESENTATION OF OUR EAGLE AND DRAPEAUX ON DECEMBER 5TH 2004 IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DESCENDANTS OF MARECHALL SOULT, COLONEL-GENERAL OR THE CHASSEURS A PIED, AND OTHER MARECHALL D'EMPIRE. THIS WAS OUR 5TH PARADE AT LES INVALIDES AND THE SECOND TIME THAT AN EAGLE AND DRAPEAUX HAD BEEN PRESENTED TO US AT LES INVALIDES.

ON THE STEPS OF THE OPERA HOUSE

THE EAGLES ON THE STEPS TO THE DOME OF LES INVALIDES. With THE  acceptance of the last Eagle their bearers with troops behind them entered the Dome to continue with the ceremony above the Napoléons tomb. There the Eagle bearers lined-up in a circle around the balustrade above the sarcophagus and inclined the Eagles with flags.General Sokolov then repeated the words delivered by  Napoléon 200 years ago: “Soldiers, these are your flags; these Eagles will be pointing out the place to assemble for you; they will go everywhere where your Emperor would consider it necessary to defend his throne and his people. Vow to sacrifice your life to defend them a lead them with your bravery forever on the ways of victory!” He then ended-up his address with an emotive call up "Vive l'Empereur!", which was then repeated with a huge echo by the lined-up troops. In these moments, the atmosphere of the ceremony graduated and perhaps everybody in the French uniform (and not only this one!) had to feel the intense frisson! Many veterans’ eyes filled up with emotion.

THE EAGLES LEAVE THE DOME AFTER BEING DEDICATED TO NAPOLEON,

THE EAGLES AND PORTE AIGLE

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