Today is a very special day for our EU comrades in France who are celebrating their National Day. Also known as Bastille Day, Fete nationale, and Quatorze juillet, 14^th July commemorates the storming of Bastille in 1789 and the unity of the French at the Fete de la Federation in 1790.

The French Embassy in Malta commemorated the day in a different way considering safety measures due to the pandemic. In a speech given by the French Ambassador to Malta today, she addressed the different nature of the celebrations and their special donation to Mater Dei.

"This year's celebration of the National Day is a very special one. We cannot gather in large numbers as we like to do to joyfully celebrate the friendship between our two countries and our shared values. We have chosen to replace such festivity with a symbolic donation to the staff of Mater Dei, to be distributed this July 14. The struggle against COVID19, which has struck and continues to strike the world, has unfortunately claimed its share of victims who remain in our thoughts. We join their families in their pain."

Such a sweet gesture of thanks!