WEYBURN – A Weyburn veteran of the Second World War, Howard Schmidt, 99, received a medal as a Knight of the Legion of Honour, the highest award that can be given by the French government, in a presentation held on Saturday with his family at the Weyburn Legion Hall.
Ken Turner, a longtime Legion member from the Estevan branch, made the presentation and gave an explanation of this honour.
He had heard of the medal and made inquiries about it, filling out an application that went to the French government.
As he explained, “The Canadian government, in conjunction with the French government, decided (in 1945) that all World War Two veterans would be given a medl on behalf of the French government for their work in liberating France during the Second World War.”
As the year have gone on, most surviving vets have passed on, and within another five years, they will pretty well all be gone, said Turner.
“The French government decided we should honour these vets for helping to liberate France, and because they placed their lives on the line, they would given the French Legion of Honour, the highest honour that the French government present,” said Turner.
The medal carries with it a French title, of Chevalier, but as it is a French honour, Schmidt could only use it if he goes to France, and there it would go in front of his name, one of the few that carry the French order of honour.
Historically, the Legion of Honour was founded in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte as a way to recognize “courage, honour and heroic services” to France. The award originally had four classes, but it was extended in 1805 to add a fifth class, that of the Knight (which Howard received).
The Legion of Honour may be conferred on Frenchmen and on foreigners for military bravery and civil achievement. The President of France is the Grand Master of the Legion, and the Legion is administered by a Chancellery, with nominations for the honour approved by the President following recommendations by the Minister of Defence or the Chancellery.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen one of these,” said Turner, holding it up for everyone to see before he pinned it on Schmidt.
Turner noted that according to Schmidt’s military record, he was wounded twice in combat, but Schmidt wasn’t able to remember what happened.
The gathered extended family members gave him a standing ovation after the medal was presented to him.
“Thank you very much. I appreciate it, and I appreciate everyone for coming,” said Schmidt.
Howard’s son Don spoke on behalf of the family, and said, “He’d like to express how honoured he is to be presented with the rank of Knight of the French Order of the Legion of Honour. He will wear his Legion of Honour with as much pride as the other medals he has received.”
He also expressed the family’s gratitude to Turner for initiating the process to get the medal, and to the Legion “for everything they’ve done and continue to do for the veterans.”
