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France gives former President Jacques Chirac full military burial

By Nicholas Sakelaris   |   Sept. 30, 2019 at 10:24 AM
The flag-draped coffin of former French President Jacques Chirac is carried inside the Church of Saint-Sulpice for a memorial service in Paris Monday. Photo by Alexei Druzhinin/EPA-EFE Former U.S. President Bill Clinton arrives at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Monda. Visiting leaders and heads of state attended a lunch following a memorial service in honor of former French President Jacques Chirac. Photo by David Silpa/UPI Former U.S. President Bill Clinton arrives at Elysee Palace in Paris Monday for the funeral of former President Jacques Chirac, who died September 26. Photo by David Silpa/UPI French President Emmanuel Macron greets former U.S. President Bill Clinton Monday as he arrives at Elysee Palace in Paris following a memorial service for former French President Jacques Chirac, who died September 26 at the age of 86. Photo by David Silpa/UPI Former French President Francois Hollande arrives Monday at Elysee Palace in Paris for the funeral of former French President Jacques Chirac, who died September 26. Photo by David Silpa/UPI Flags are seen at half-staff Monday near Elysee Palace in Paris in honor of former French President Jacques Chirac, who died September 26 at the age of 86. Photo by David Silpa/UPI The French flag is flown at half-staff Monday at Elysee Palace in Paris, France, to honor former French President Jacques Chirac, who died September 26 at the age of 86. Photo by David Silpa/UPI Princess Marie and Prince Joachim of Denmark arrive at Elysee Palace in Paris Monday for a memorial service to honor former French President Jacques Chirac, who died September 26 at the age of 86. Photo by David Silpa/UPI Morocco's Prince Moulay El Hassan arrives at Elysee Palace in Paris Monday for a memorial service honoring former French President Jacques Chirac, who died September 26 at the age of 86. Photo by David Silpa/UPI French President Emmanuel Macron greets Prince Albert of Monaco Monday as he arrives at Elysee Palace in Paris following a memorial service for former French President Jacques Chirac, who died September 26 at the age of 86. Photo by David Silpa/UPI Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai arrives Monday at Elysee Palace in Paris following a memorial service for former French President Jacques Chirac, who died September 26 at the age of 86. Photo by David Silpa/UPI French President Emmanuel Macron greets German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier as he arrives Monday at Elysee Palace in Paris following a memorial service for former French President Jacques Chirac, who died September 26 at the age of 86. Photo by David Silpa/UPI French President Emmanuel Macron greets former Afghan President Hamid Karzai Monday as he arrives at Elysee Palace in Paris  following a memorial service for former French President Jacques Chirac, who died September 26 at the age of 86. Photo by David Silpa/UPI

Sept. 30 (UPI) -- World leaders joined the French in mourning former President Jacques Chirac on Monday as he was buried with full military honors.

The French had a national day of mourning that included private and national ceremonies for Chirac, who died Thursday at age 86. About 200 family and friends gathered at the Hotel des Invalides, where current President Emmanuel Macron led a military tribute.

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Chirac's grandson, Martin Chirac-Rey, 23, addressed the crowd at the private service.

Military veterans could be seen wiping their eyes as the funeral march played. Macron followed the coffin out of Les Invalides. The former military hospital has become a museum with monuments from France's history. French politicians attended, including former Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy, Giscard d'Estaing and Francois Hollande.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Hungarian Prime Minister Vicktor Orban, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and others attended the public funeral at the Church of Saint Sulpice in Paris. Pianist Daniel Barendoim played Schubert. Chirac will be laid to rest at Montparnasse cemetery south of Paris next to his daughter.

Chirac was president of France from 1995 to 2007. Critics have accused Chirac of accomplishing little during his time as president. He's best remembered in the United States for staunchly opposing the U.S. invasion of Iraq. He was also later convicted for his role in the "fake jobs" scandal from his time as mayor of Paris.