In Washington, D.C., June 6, French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Alain Juppe honored three U.S. World War II veterans at the World War II Memorial.

“In recognition of our gratitude for your commitment, the French government is naming three of you to the Order of the Legion of Honor, the highest distinction granted by our country. I am very honored to present you with its insignia,” Juppe said.

Honored were Frank Bauers.; Harold Shapiro and Herbert Chandler.

Juppe noted that it was 67 years ago that American soldiers began landing on French soil. “With the enthusiasm of their youth, they took up arms to defend freedom. True to the friendship uniting France and the United States since the days of Lafayette and the French-American treaty of 1778, they crossed the Atlantic to free the entire French nation from the yoke of terror and barbarism.”