US, French reservists celebrate French National Day of Reserves

CHAUMONT, France — Members of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 7th Civil Support Command and French reservists celebrated the National Day of the Reserves at
Chaumont-Semouties, Haute-Marne, France, May 8 and 9.

The commander of the Army Region Northeast Headquarters of French Forces and the 7th CSC Soldiers organized a 21-kilometer road march that started from Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base to Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises and the Charles de Gaulle Memorial to commemorate the reservists of the French military.

“This was an event filled with camaraderie and esprit d’corps — definitely a dignified event to have attended indeed,” said 2nd Lt. Yan Burian, a member of Company D, 457th Civil Affairs Battalion, 7th CSC.

Chaumont was the venue of an offensive treaty against Napoleon I signed by the United Kingdom, Austria, Prussia and Russia in 1814. The area around Chaumont has a long history of American military presence.

During World War I, Haute-Marne was one of the bloodiest areas of France with many battles fought on its soil. In 1917, the Headquarters of the American Expeditionary Force was located in the commune of Chaumont.

Today, a bronze tablet in the city commemorates the efforts of 2 million American Soldiers and their actions during World War II under Gen. John J. Pershing. More than 1,200 reservists from France, Switzerland, Germany and the U.S., members of the French government and military, and citizens of the Haute-Marne department attended the celebration.