Armistice Day

Yesterday is backblipped. 

Today: 11 a.m. at the war memorial. It was well attended, partly because a group of schoolchildren from Fontenay sous Bois, a suburb of Paris that has a partnership with our village, are here having a classe verte. They certainly bulked out the handful of local children (extra). We were amused at how disciplined they were, compared to the locals, lining up neatly with their bouquets to walk to the memorial. They sang a song, speeches were made, and once we thought we were all done, Serge the mayor said: "I've just remembered -- we need to sing La Marseillaise!" So we did. He's a good singer with a strong voice so it went better than it normally does. Although it brought home to me how many of the words I don't know: mumble mumble mumble AUX ARMES CITOYENS!

Later S and I went down a Google rabbit hole while wondering why Serge was wearing his sash from left to right. I won't tell you how many obscure rules he and his deputies have broken in this photo. We did learn that local officials are supposed to wear it with blue at the top, and only MPs and senators are allowed red at the top, so that's one.

After the ceremony there was of course an apero at the bar, called un vin d'honneur to make it sound official. Then home for a well-earned rest.