Two days prior to France's Bastille Day, three U.S. veterans received the country's highest honors. On Sunday, July 12, the French Consulate of Boston presented Charles Abdinoor, Mathias Leupold and Edward Soboll, all three of whom fought in World War II and are from the New England area, with the Legion of Honor. FrenchCulture.org stated that this award was introduced by Napoleon Bonaparte and is given to non-French citizens for outstanding service to the country. France considers the "Légion d'Honneur" very prestigious, and it is usually only given to veterans of WWII. However, other American honorees include Barbara Streisand and Elie Wiesel.
Abdinoor, Leupold and Soboll were part of the campaigns that helped liberate France during the war, and the Consulate said that after 70 years it was time to show gratitude for their service and for their assistance in the liberation of France. In the Wharf Room of the Boston Harbor Hotel where the ceremony took place, the veterans shook hands, took photos and shared stories of their war experiences and their life after service with the crowd. The Consul General of France in Boston, Fabien Fieschi, said that it was important for France and the U.S. to remember and honor our shared values of independence, freedom and democracy.