19 Canadian veterans received the French Legion of Honour [fr]

November 11, 2015 – OTTAWA – Nineteen Canadian veterans of the Second World War received the French Legion of Honour directly from His Excellency Nicolas Chapuis, Ambassador of France to Canada, on Tuesday, November 10th at 5:00pm.

This ceremony, which took place at the Embassy of France in Ottawa, is the largest ceremony organized in Canada to date as part of commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the Allied Landings in Normandy and Provence. This decoration is an expression of France’s wish to honour the heroes who helped liberate the country during the Second World War

The veterans who were honoured on Tuesday are among more than 1000 applicants reviewed throughout the course of an exceptional campaign. This campaign was overseen in collaboration with Veterans Affairs Canada and resulted in ceremonies being held across Canada in 2014 and 2015.

France’s Legion of Honour was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. It rewards citizens for their merits, irrespective of social or hereditary considerations. The Knight of the French Legion of Honour medal is a five-armed cross with a V-shaped cut-out at the end of each arm, generally surmounted by a wreath of laurel leaves.

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 Local press articles

• Reportage CTV : intervention de l’ambassadeur

• France honours Canadian vets - by Julienne Bay, Ottawa Sun

• Canadian veterans honoured with France’s Legion of Honour by Robert Sibley, Ottawa Citizen

• Canadian D-Day veterans awarded Legion of Honour more than 70 years after liberation of France, Postmedia News