Evening star., 1949-06-08
BY Thomos R. Henry
stor StaH Cerrsspondent

BY Ihomos X. HenY
Star SsoH Correspondent
PARIS, June 8.-On the gray
old parade ground Of Les Inyalides
on q summer afternoon. the Garde
Republique In red-plumed brass
helmets and blue tunics covered
with lacework Of red fourageres
comes sharply to attention.
The rifles rattle TO parade
arms" There is q single brass
clang Of the bell In the tower.
Over the cobblestoned parade
ground looms the golden dome
which covers the great bowl where
IL stone angels stand eternal guard
over the coffin Of Napoleon.
The stone face Of the emperor
himself looks down on the group
of 46 American war correspond
ents whom the reborn republic
decorated yesterday with the
Medal of Liberated France.
They stand at attention, Ill at
ease here at this shrine Of a great
empires far-scattered battlefelds.
The road has led In five years from
Normandy's slushy beaches and
hedgerows.
A light rain Is falling. The color
guard holds the tricolor banner Of
France aloft. The band plays the
Marseillaise, the Star Spangled
Banner.
n. Minister Pins on Medals.
The Minister Of Defense, M.
Bertolaud, passes quickly down
the line. pinning on each mans
lapel the medal with its red,
green, blue and gold ribbon.
This display Of homage. said
one, is almost like the privilege
Of being present alive ut your own
funeral. 1t is ceremony which
cannot be duplicated anywhere
else on earth. 1t belongs to this
gray courtyard which is the SYM
boil of embattled France. whose
story is told in badly cracked
frescoes Of incidents from the con-
quest OF the Druids and the COM
ing of the Vikings to the birth Of
the republic.
All around are the big guns Of
the armies from the thirteenth
century to the twentieth. the
swords Of old warriors, the statues
Of dead heroes.
Outside the great gay city is
at its liveliest and loveliest. Sci
dom before has Paris seemed so
carefree, so luxurious. as this nth
summer after the invasion. Physi-
cally 1t barely was scratched by
the war. Spiritually 1t seemed
mortally wounded then, but all
the wounds have healed.
1t Is again the great city Of
light. For all the world whose
lights went out 30 tragically.
sometimes 1t seemed never to be
lit again nine years ago.
Orgy Of Crying and Kissing.
On that unforgetable August
day when the first Allied troops
marched through its gates. the
orgy Of crying and kissing was
beyond the comprehension OF the
dusty soldiers of the 1st Army who
had fought their way from Nor
mandy to its liberation.
Then Paris went back to . grim
struggle with poverty and soul
sickness. It has come through.
1t is more vital and happy today
than Just before the war.
This ability to arise from the
ashes of despair, shown over and
over again through the war
slashed centuries, is the predom-
mating characteristic Of the
worlds best beloved city.
Probably none Of the war cor
respondents who took part In the
ceremony this afternoon had un-
derstoed very well before this
strange capacity OF reSuIrection.
The ceremony was over quickly
and the Garde Republique
paraded past the men with their
flaming new medals. Then the
war correspondents were received
by President Vincent Auriol and
four members Of his cabinet.
A plain. ,1nassuming. eloquent
head Of q great empire. Mr.. Auriol
chatted with one after another
| for more than an hour before the
reporters emerged again into the
bright sunshine Of the Rue
st. Honore and mingled with the
chattering American tourists
looking for bargains.
Names Of Those Decorated.
Among the 46 American re-
porters and photographers who