France Honors Humble Veterans (Americans from WW II)

The Boston Globe ^ | 11-6-2007 | David Abel

[BronzePencil]

MILTON - Nearly every morning since World War II, George M. Thompson has walked outside his two-bedroom townhouse to hang a US flag over his driveway. Before sunset, the 82-year-old Army veteran takes the flag inside, a ritual that he says has helped him hold on to memories of the fellow soldiers he watched die between the beaches of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge.

Sixty-two years after completing their mission, Thompson and six other veterans who helped liberate France will today be awarded the Legion of Honor, France's highest award. President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has sought improved relations with the United States since being elected in May, will present medals to the men in Washington, where tomorrow he will address a joint session of Congress.

[BronzePencil]

Congrats to these WW2 veterans.

[SueRae]

A wonderful gesture and a deserved one. Sarkozy is turning the page on the recent past pretty well. How refreshing.

[Bahbah]

Thompson says he is honored but doesn't feel worthy.

"I don't think I was a hero," he said

Well, I do. Lots of us do.

[guinnessman]

Very cool!

Sarkozy is making me like the French again.

I wonder if we’ll start seeing more American tourists in France.

[Tirian]

A classy move by Sarkozy.

From the article - some more background on these men:

He earned a Purple Heart after he was wounded in the Battle of Chambois and a Bronze Star for his bravery while helping others cross the Moselle River, which runs through France and Germany. He also has ribbons for fighting in five major battles, which took him as far as Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, where he was attached to the 359th Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division
....
Joining Thompson in Washington today will be Charles N. Shay, 83, of Old Town, Maine, a combat medic who served in the First Division, landed on Omaha Beach on D-day, and spent six weeks as a prisoner of war. A Penobscot Indian whose ancestors were allies of George Washington during the Revolutionary War, Shay received a Silver Star and four Bronze Stars.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The new French president is a breath of fresh air.

[SoldierMedic]

Joining Thompson in Washington today will be Charles N. Shay, 83, of Old Town, Maine, a combat medic who served in the First Division, landed on Omaha Beach on D-day, and spent six weeks as a prisoner of war.

I have so much admiration and respect for men like this. The hell he must have seen on those beaches, and the wrenching in his gut as he chose who would ultimately live and who would ultimately die during the triage process. Being an instrument of life during a campaign of death. It is only a dream to achieve such greatness as this man has.

[Squawk 8888]

The real heroes never see themselves as such.

[shankbear]

Vive la France. Sarko has zee ballz.

[The Great RJ]

A well deserved honor for all those brave soldiers.

There is considerable irony in French President Sarkozy, a man with a spine, addressing all the cut and run Democrats and white flag Republicans in Congress.

[prognostigaator]

BTTT