(Fighting against New Coronary Pneumonia) 100th Anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris

　　China News Service, Paris, November 12th. Title: 100th Anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris: Pray for everlasting fire to illuminate the French anti-epidemic road

　　China News Agency reporter Li Yang

　　November 11 this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris.

　　On November 11, 1920, on the second anniversary of the end of the First World War, France built the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier directly under the Arc de Triomphe.

There is no tombstone in the tomb of the martyrs, and a line of inscription is carved on the stone slab on the ground: "Here lies a soldier who died for the country."

When there was no epidemic in the past, many people came here to mourn and lay flowers.

Data map: Arc de Triomphe Square in Paris.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Li Yang

　　However, the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier coincides with the second wave of COVID-19 in France, and the atmosphere is very different from the past.

As France entered the second national "closed city", in order to prevent and control the epidemic, the scale of related commemorative activities such as the end of World War I had to be greatly reduced, and the official commemoration ceremony was not open to the public.

　　French President Macron laid a wreath on the statue of Clemenceau (Prime Minister of France during the First World War) on the Champs-Elysées on the same day, and then went to the Arc de Triomphe to participate in the memorial ceremony.

The only politicians who participated in the commemoration ceremony were Senate President Larcher, Speaker of the National Assembly Ferrand, former Presidents Hollande and Sarkozy, Prime Minister Caste, Minister of Defense Pali and Paris Mayor Hidalgo.

The most important part of the ceremony was Macron laying flowers to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and blowing a long open flame.

　　The ceremony lasted only half an hour, and the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs Elysées were heavily guarded.

After the commemorative ceremony, the reporter came to the Champs Elysées and noticed that the security measures here were still tight. Many police officers checked and asked pedestrians and passing vehicles for travel certificates on the Champs Elysées.

During the "closure of the city", people must carry travel certificates when they really need to travel.

　　The reporter saw that there were many police cars on standby in front of the Arc de Triomphe; many police officers were patrolling in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The pedestrian passage leading to the Arc de Triomphe is also stationed by police.

Due to the second "closure of the city", the Arc de Triomphe, which had been reopened less than half a year after the "unblocking", also closed again.

　　The Champs Elysées became empty again, with few pedestrians, and most shops were still closed.

However, a huge French flag was hoisted on the Arc de Triomphe, and French flags were also hoisted along the Champs Elysées to remind people to remember the special day of November 11.

　　France's second national "closed city" is about to expire for half a month, and the prevention and control measures for the second wave of epidemics have also entered a critical moment.

Macron will once again preside over the meeting of the French National Defense Committee on the 12th to assess the effect of the "closure of the city" on the prevention and control of the epidemic and decide how to take the next response.

Prime Minister Castel will announce relevant decisions on the evening of the 12th.

　　The current epidemic situation in France is still severe.

On the 11th, there were 35,879 new confirmed cases in the country in a single day; the cumulative number of confirmed cases exceeded 1.86 million, still ranking fourth in the world.

The official target of fewer than 5,000 new cases in a single day is obviously still far away, and public opinion generally believes that it is difficult to "unblock" immediately in the short term.

　　France’s anti-epidemic road is currently facing more daunting challenges, and pressure from the economic field is increasing.

In order to reduce economic losses, the Paris Printemps Department Store Group announced earlier that it would close its 7 stores in France, and 450 jobs would face cancellation.

　　It is worth noting that the latest data shows that the number of new hospitalized cases and severe cases in France is now on the decline, and the initial effect of the "closure of the city" is emerging.

If the pressure on the medical system is relieved, deregulation measures before the Christmas holiday is also possible, so that the majority of businesses can get a valuable respite.

Many high-ranking French officials have stated that it is too early to make predictions on the trend of the epidemic, and hope that people can maintain their strength.

　　The long open flame in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been burning for nearly a hundred years, even when Paris was occupied by the Germans during World War II, she was never extinguished.

The reporter saw that the ever-open flames after Macron’s profusion were burning, and the flames were dazzling, and she continued to give people indelible hope during the epidemic.

　　May the everlasting fire illuminate the French anti-epidemic road.

(Finish)