Can’t believe nobody mentioned it!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7506005.stm
The 3rd picture particularly shows how well suited the Champs-Elysees is to staging parades.
From the text it seems that many French soldiers were deeply unhappy about planned Military cuts - I doubt many had live ammunition in their guns for the march past President Sarkozy.
Can some one explain to me the photo of the men in uniform wearing what looks to be a leather apron and carrying a stick (Ax?). Page five.
Pioneers of the Foreign Legion.
They did. Here!
Ya missed it. ChasR posted yesterday Vive La French or something like that.
As dwest notes, they are sometimes called pioneers, or sometimes sappers or engineers. The modern equivalent would be an engineering corps.
djm
In France they are just called “O Pioneers!” 
D’oH!! Ah well, some pretty pictures of handsome (but annoyed) Frecnh soldiers then.