Bonne fete, citoyens!

[Duque de Bragança]

Liberté, Égalité Dirigisme, Fraternité Chauvinisme

Fixed it for you

[Duque de Bragança]

Une joyeuse Fête de la Fédération !

[Ed Anger]

The cavalry in the parade.

I got a Murat boner.

[Admiral Yi]

I thought it was cool in The Day of the Jackal when the mounted band was playing Aupres de Ma Blonde.

Is that traditionally played Duque?

[Duque de Bragança]

I thought it was cool in The Day of the Jackal when the mounted band was playing Aupres de Ma Blonde.

Is that traditionally played Duque?

On July 14th? It's a drinking and even nursery rhyme but originally a military march so it does not seem out of bounds except for the references to Holland(e) in the nowadays seldom sung stanzas

[Admiral Yi]

On July 14th? It's a drinking and even nursery rhyme but originally a military march so it does not seem out of bounds except for the references to Holland(e) in the nowadays seldom sung stanzas

If you leave out the Holland part you can't deliver the dynamite twist at the end. 

[CountDeMoney]

Link to some awesome photos of the parade today:

http://darkroom.baltimoresun.com/2012/07/bastille-days-traditional-military-parade/#1

[Grey Fox]

http://darkroom.baltimoresun.com/2012/07/bastille-days-traditional-military-parade/soldiers-from-french-foreign-legion-take-2/

In this picture, of the french foreign legion, you can see it's only Mongolian-born member.

Apparently finding a teacher for him wasn't Easy.

[Sheilbh]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K1q9Ntcr5g

:tear:

http://youtu.be/HM-E2H1ChJM

 

Vive la France!

[CountDeMoney]

You know, I am a tremendous fan of French military history and tradition, but damn, I've always hated the look of those massive erect kepis.  Especially from the country that invented the beret.
Christ, they even looked better collapsed and slouched in the ACW.

Bring back the  tricorn for non-coms. 

[Brazen]

Really? I love a good kepi, me, and the recent Eurosatory did a lot to fuel my French Foreign Legion fantasies.

The Russian Generals with their needlessly massive crowns won at hats, though 

[CountDeMoney]

The Russian Generals with their needlessly massive crowns won at hats, though 

The ones that look like the 1964 New York Worlds Fair landed on their heads and embroidered themselves?  Yeah, those are pretty bad.

[Brazen]

I snuck a photo. Cold War-tastic!

[CountDeMoney]

I snuck a photo. Cold War-tastic!

Did you ever ask any of them what the deal was with the obligatory Russian facial wart?  Is it government issued?

[Brazen]

Did you ever ask any of them what the deal was with the obligatory Russian facial wart?  Is it government issued?

No, the Russian for "wart" escaped me. However the guy facing front looks like he's going for someone's brains imminently.