From NOLA:
They were assigned to different locations in France 65 years ago, but today, five Louisiana veterans will be together at the New Orleans Museum of Art to receive France's highest distinction for their service during World War II.
Ivan J. Breaux of Kaplan, John Copes of Baton Rouge, William Haar of Metairie, Richard Whaley of Lafayette and Frank H. Walk of New Orleans will receive the Legion of Honor, a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Olivier Brochenin, the consul general of France in New Orleans, will bestow the honor at a ceremony preceding a reception for Bastille Day, the French national holiday. Two other veterans, Voorhies Dewailly and Warren Butcher, also will receive the award but cannot attend the ceremony.
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Brochenin said the significance of their efforts becomes more impressive as time goes on and fewer people have firsthand memories of the war.
“The sacrifice of these soldiers is unbelievable,” Brochenin said.
The National Order of the Legion of Honor was founded by Napoleon in 1802 to pay tribute to military officials who had served France. Today, French citizens can receive the honor for military or civil work. But it has been extended to noncitizens for outstanding work, including World War II veterans.
“There will be no other, better way for the French republic to show how much we appreciate (them),” Brochenin said.
And there is no better day, Brochenin said, than the French national holiday.
“The national day of France, which is the most important day for the French people...I think that day is the best to pay tribute,” he said.
Merçi, Monsieur le Consul. Although our own government sometimes seems not to care much for the people of south Louisiana, the French still love us. After the neglect following Katrina and the federal flood, we were only half-joking when we pled with France to buy us back.
Merçi, Mimi! I had not seen this story before this post.
ReplyDeleteCrapaud, a lovely gesture, n'est-ce pas?
ReplyDeleteBTW! I forgot to tell you, I had an unexpected experience at work - we got a call from the airport that there was a guest coming in, that he was from France, and "You'll know him when you see him!"
ReplyDeleteHe did stand out, being a 20 year old basketball player from Caen who stands at 6' 7"! Nice young man named Vincent Cornu, who, apparently, is quite good - I believe his team is Calvados. This I got from his coach. Between my Southern accent and his French accent, both of us very shy and hesitantly soft speakers, I doubt that Mr. Cornu and I understood each other very well.
Mark, I've been to Caen and visited the wonderful Caen Memorial, which is a museum dedicated to peace. There was heavy fighting in the city during World War II, and I believe the city was pretty much destroyed.
ReplyDeleteI drank calvados in a nearby town, where we had dinner.