In most English-speaking countries, November 11 is known as Veterans Day or Remembrance Day, honoring military veterans and those who have died in the line of duty. In France, this day is still known as Armistice Day, in memory of the 1918 armistice signed between the Allies and Germany that ended World War I. Since 2012, all those who died for France have also been commemorated during Armistice Day. The French Foreign Legion participates annually in those ceremonies. See images.
4e RE: 2023 Foreign Legion Half Marathon
In Castelnaudary (Southern France) on October 7, 2023, the 45th Foreign Legion Half Marathon took place. The annual race is organized by the 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE) in this Foreign Legion training regiment’s garrison town, and held on the first Saturday in October. The event includes a half marathon (13 miles / 21 km) and 10K race. Its first edition took place in 1977.
2023 Bastille Day Military Parade
Annually, a large military parade takes place in Paris to commemorate the 14th of July, the French national day, known in English-speaking countries as Bastille Day. On that most important French holiday, also the French Foreign Legion units participate in the parade in the capital. Learn more and see images.
Rehearsal for the 2023 Bastille Day parade
As every year in July, members of the French Foreign Legion are preparing dutifully for the Bastille Day Military Parade that takes place annually in Paris on July 14. See a nice video showing the legionnaires’ rehearsal for the parade.
Foreign Legion: 2023 Camerone Day
The 30th of April 2023 marked the 160th anniversary of the 1863 Battle of Camerone, an epic moment in the history of the French Foreign Legion in which its 65 men faced some 2,000 Mexican adversaries. The famous battle is portrayed as a pure example of bravery and the determination to fight to the finish, and gave the Legion its character and esprit de corps. Therefore, Camerone Day became the most important holiday for all current or former members of this exceptional military unit. See 2023 Camerone Day pictures from several Legion regiments.
4e RE: 102nd Anniversary of the Regiment
In Castelnaudary in mid-November 2022, the officers, NCOs, legionnaires and enlisted volunteers of the 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE) celebrated the 102nd anniversary of the regiment’s creation.
PHOTOS: 3rd “Camerone” Company, 4e REI
Summer holidays are over and thus it’s time to share again some historical pictures of the French Foreign Legion. This time, those related to the pre-WWII 3rd Company, 4th Foreign Infantry Regiment (4e REI). A direct heir to the famous 3rd Company, 1st Battalion, Foreign Regiment that participated in the legendary 1863 Battle of Camerone.
2e REP: 1st Company to return from Djibouti
This week, the 1st Company of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2e REP) is to return to Corsica from Djibouti, a small country in the Horn of Africa, where the airborne legionnaires have spent four months.
4e RE: 2022 Specialist Training Company
See an interesting videoclip dedicated to the Specialist Training Company, 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE). According to the company commander, his 80 instructors train more than 2,000 candidates a year in 15 different specialized courses.
4e RE: 2022 Remise de Kepi blanc at Camp Carpiagne
In late January 2022, a platoon of enlisted volunteers from the French Foreign Legion’s 4th Foreign Regiment (4e RE) finished their initial four-week instruction and were allowed to make a military oath. The ceremony took place at Camp Carpiagne, home to another Legion unit, the 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment (1er REC). As a matter of interest, the French national rugby team – Les Bleus – was present during the ceremony.
Foreign Legion: 2021 Armistice Day
The 11th of November marks Armistice Day in France. That day the entire nation commemorate the end of hostilities of World War I. Thus last Thursday, on November 11, the French Foreign Legion – as well as the rest of the French Armed Forces – commemorated the 103rd Armistice Day, and remembered the 36,000 legionnaires and foreign volunteers being killed or wounded during the war. See the photos.