Foreword
I share the spirit of Christian's text.

I share the spirit that should guide our traditions, but I regret the growing folklore where everyone stages their own ceremony, in an absurd escalation of publicity. There is, however, a COMLE (Committee of Legionnaires) for the active legion and a federation of veterans' associations; their structures are more than sufficient.
By constantly striving to "do better," we are straying from the sobriety and dignity that should be essential for entering the world of entertainment.
That those who reject this circus ultimately have no other choice but to withdraw from it speaks volumes.
LEGION'ARTS (PyC)

By Christian Morisot
Legion veterans, like others, often, aided by nostalgia, tend to succumb to the "things were better before" or "in my day" mentality... We can laugh about it. Active duty personnel certainly do this, but still…
Like any living organism, the Legion cannot and must not remain static. It must constantly adapt to new standards, regulatory changes, the evolution of the society around it from which it draws its human resources, and the inevitable march of time… One of its main strengths, it has always seemed to us, is the considerable weight of its traditions which, like the philosopher's stone meant to transform base metals into silver and gold, transform, through a unique alchemy, the human diversity that comes to us from the Legion units. Therefore, "More Majorum!" "In the manner of our ancestors" is, as everyone knows, the motto of two of our regiments, and not the least of them: the glorious Demi-Brigade and the equally famous 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (2nd REP). The monuments of these two regiments bear witness to this. But still…
The veneration of our elders and the transmission of traditions guarantee a mindset that, embracing both modernity and change, results in the esprit de corps that so many envy… But still…
Without any nostalgia, but with clear-sightedness, we are astonished by certain facts that would once have offended the intelligence and decorum of the Legionnaires and that today seem to have quietly crept into people's minds.

In 1984, General JC Coullon, COM.LE, created the Legionnaire's Code of Honor in consultation with his commanding officers at the time. When he sent the "finished product" to all units, he wrote in his directive:

"I wish to specify the general framework within which you will have it taught, which excludes any proclamation of a solemn or ostentatious nature. Indeed, ethics and folklore must never be confused."

Nevertheless, despite this formal directive, for some years now we have witnessed a folkloric display—bordering on the grotesque—of this Code of Honor during the presentation of white kepis to training sections. The legionnaire then becomes a tool for public communication.
During a public ceremony, the new legionnaires, holding their kepis in their right hand, perform a three-part movement synchronized to the sound of a unison chant of "Legio Patria Nostra," which ends with the kepi being placed on their heads. When will we see a "Men on their knees, legionnaires on their feet!"?

Not stopping there, and as if to inform the crowd of spectators that the Foreign Legion is largely composed of foreigners, the head of the section in question chose from among his men the one with the strongest foreign accent to serve as the reciter of each article of the Code so that the section could repeat it in a thunderous unison.

It's beautiful… it's grand… it's noisy… but still…
These ceremonies sometimes take place in historically significant locations; such as Mont-Mouchet, a stronghold of the Resistance in Auvergne, where one of these ceremonies was held and for which legionnaires received invitations from… the Red Berets. Probably a (happy) initiative of the UNP, whose president (General Piquemal) was wearing a red beret… the location was certainly well chosen, but still…
Recently, a former legionnaire, expelled from his association for reasons irrelevant to our discussion, managed to create an association unaffiliated with the FSALE, whose objective was the erection of a new stele in Moulins-sur-Allier, the commander's birthplace, in honor of Battalion Commander Morin. It must be acknowledged that the initiative was a real success, and the inauguration ceremony was a grand affair: an honor guard from the 2nd REP accompanied by the commanding officer, Saint-Cyr cadets in full dress uniform, the band from the Association of Former Musicians of the Foreign Legion, countless civilian and military associations and their emblems, local elected officials… the success was such that, bolstered by this newfound notoriety, the organizer wanted to hold a ceremony to present white kepis in a good town. Everyone was in agreement, but a hitch threw a wrench in the works, and the ceremony was canceled. But still…
We thought we had seen many new developments, but alas, a recent event, a sort of cherry on top, gave us a start! It took place at the headquarters on April 30th, where Camerone was being commemorated and the flag of the 11th REI, rising from its ashes, was being entrusted to the Foreign Legion Recruitment Group.
The troops were in place, the flags and the representatives of the veterans' associations were in their usual positions, when the Paratrooper Legionnaires' Association entered, singing, and positioned itself next to the war memorial, away from the other associations, forming a separate, singular entity…
From a purely aesthetic point of view, this might have been justified…
But… still!
Enough is enough!