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The French Embassy in Washington Honors 100 American D-Day Veterans (3)
The French Embassy in Washington Honors 100 American D-Day Veterans (3)
France Says Than You
to America :
American World War II Veterans to be decorated in Paris
and Normandy Commemorating
60th Anniversary of D-Day. Air France Tailors Special
Flight For Veterans And Companions.
Source:
Embassy of France,
Washington D.C. (MAE Photo – F. de la Mure)
French Ambassador Jean-David Levitte
with a decorated Veteran
The one
hundred World War II veterans honoured on June 3 at the French Embassy will
receive the French Legion of Honor in France during the official D-Day
commemorations in Paris and Normandy.
The 60th anniversary of the Normandy landings will constitute a historic event and a
wonderful occasion to celebrate the long and lasting friendship between the
United States and France.
Today's
reception, held at the French Embassy, honors
one
hundred veterans who, 60 years ago, were among the tens of thousands who
fought for the liberation of France and Europe. This event takes place a few
hours before a special flight leaves from Washington D.C. to Paris, on the
evening of June 3, taking the one hundred World War II American veterans to
France.
The French
Embassy has partnered with Air France and other French companies and individuals
to offer veterans and their guests business class service. Arrival, departure
and on-board service will be customized for this special flight to ensure a
comfortable and restful trip to Paris.
Veterans will
be invited to stay at some of Paris's finest hotels.
By decision
of the President of the French Republic, the 100 veterans—who were selected by
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs—have been invited to France to attend
the celebrations marking the Normandy landings. In an official award ceremony,
99 of them will receive the French Legion of Honor from the minister of defense,
Michèle Alliot-Marie. The ceremony will take place on June 5, in Paris, at the
Hotel des Invalides, the most prestigious historic military building in Paris.
On June 6,
the veterans will travel to Normandy on a special train. There, the 100th
veteran will be presented with the insignia of the Legion of Honor by the
President of the French Republic, Mr. Jacques Chirac, during an international
ceremony at Arromanches, Normandy.
Prior to their U.S Departure on
June 3rd, a reception will be held in Washington in honor of the one hundred
veterans and their guests with officials, representatives of participating
French companies and individuals – as well as students from Washington schools.
The reception is open to media by invitation at 4:30 p.m. at the French Embassy,
4101 Reservoir Road, Washington D.C.
For more information contact:
Nathalie Loiseau, French Embassy
(202) 944-6070 Chris Maio, Air France, (212) 830-4356
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