Travel: Day Two at NATO

A symbolic ceremony was under way today to mark France’s return as a full NATO member and to remember those who have died in NATO-led missions during the alliance’s 60-year history.

NATO leaders were gathering on a footbridge over the Rhine river separating France and Germany, which are both hosting a two-day NATO summit that concludes Saturday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel walked from one side and French President Nicolas Sarkozy walked from the other to meet in the middle and greet each other. The handshake will be a symbol for France rejoining NATO’s military command more than four decades after it left.

A solemn ceremony followed to honor the men and women in uniform who have died in NATO missions and operations over the years.

Then, it’s down to business, with some of the most important discussions of the summit so far.

The meeting in Strasbourg, France, was devoted primarily to NATO’s ongoing operational commitments — and in particular to its engagement in Afghanistan.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and British Foreign Minister David Miliband were in attendance. Hillary sat right between Brown and President Obama.

She spoke with NATO Secretary General General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at the start of the meeting.

During the meeting, Obama has asked NATO members for more civilian and military assistance. Despite some contributions of police trainers from France and Spain and aircraft from Belgium, NATO members have so far largely been reluctant to contribute more.