Who will get the French Legion of Honor on Bastille Day?
Ingrid Betancourt, a politician with dual French-Colombian citizenship, was released last week in a Colombian military operation after she was held captive for six years in the jungle by FARC guerrillas. She is a Colombian-French politician, former senator and anti-corruption activist who was campaigning for Colombia’s presidency when she was captured in 2002.
In France, supporters had held vigils for years to urge her release. Even two French presidents, Chirac and Sarkozy, championed her cause. Her liberation has brought a lot of joy towards France. She came to France, where she grew up and her children live, soon after her release.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office announced today that Betancourt will receive the Legion of Honor award at a Bastille Day ceremony July 14. She will speak at the National Assembly, France’s lower house of parliament, on Wednesday.
I am thrilled for her and also for the 14 other hostages (three Americans and 11 Colombian policemen and soldiers) who were released at the same time.
My name is Jackie Grandchamps. In 2003, I founded French Escapade, offering another way to travel in small groups of 8. "Don't be a tourist, be our guest" is the moto and spirit of my company.
Check www.frenchescapade.com
Through this blog, I will provide information about France, Belgium, California, (soon Italy) but also some stories from my guests on the tours.
Learn more about the company in the French Escapade section of this blog.