To pay homage to the Unknown Soldier, who has rested under the Arc de Triomphe for just over a century, soldiers from the Army ran 300 km to reach Verdun in Paris.
They will arrive in the capital this Tuesday evening, with the "flame of memory" in their hands.
It will be just a century on Wednesday that the Unknown Soldier rests under the Arc de Triomphe.
To pay homage to the man who symbolizes all those who died for France, Army soldiers retraced his journey, from Verdun to Paris, carrying with them the flame of remembrance.
When they arrive in Paris on Tuesday, the participants will have run a total of just over 300 km, divided into five stages.
"It was an honor to run for them"
Luigi, from the 3rd Combat Helicopter Regiment, thus completed the 9 km route in just 40 minutes.
With two comrades and his dog, he sped between fields and cows on the departmental roads, in combat gear and torch in hand.
For this 19-year-old soldier, the duty to remember is important.
"I have a great-grandfather who fought in the war, I did this for his memory. It concerns us all, soldiers and civilians. They fell for us, to protect France. It was an honor. to run for them. It is still ridiculous compared to what they did but to me it means a lot. "
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Each time the relay passes through the municipalities, everyone wears their mask and their own flame.
In the midst of the Covid-19 epidemic, the racing conditions had to be adapted, explains General Brûlon, one of the organizers.
"We opened up the possibility for people to participate in this relay from home, through a Zoom on which they can film themselves running, or on a bike. We are really on something extremely symbolic. But we wanted to integrate as many people as possible. "