Georgia veterans honored for service in France during WWII
June 4, 2015 at 8:55 p.m.
| Updated June 4, 2015 at 9:00 p.m.
by
Associated Press
World War II veteran Stanley Byars, 92, of Atlanta, center, receives the French Legion of Honor medal from Denis Barbet, the consul general of France in Atlanta, right, as fellow veteran Neill Jack Cox, 90, of Clermont, Ga., left, applauds during a ceremony at the Capitol Thursday, June 4, 2015, in Atlanta. The Legion of Honor is the highest distinction France can award to a citizen or foreigner. The Ten WWII veterans who were honored Thursday fought on French territory as part of the liberation of the country from Nazi Germany and were nominated by President Francois Hollande. Regularly under enemy fire, Byars was the sole survivor of machine gun fire from a single German fighter plan that attacked his five-truck convoy. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
ATLANTA (AP) - The Consulate General of France in Atlanta has added 10 Georgia veterans to the country's National Order of the Legion of Honor for their service during WWII.
Consul General Denis Barbet was on hand for a ceremony Thursday at the Georgia state Capitol.
Officials say the designation is meant to express gratitude toward troops who liberated Normandy, Provence, Ardennes and northern France in 1944 and 1945.
Officials say the National Order of the Legion of Honor was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, and is the highest service honor in France.
Officials say recipients of the honor are selected by French President François Hollande.
