After visiting the Musee d’Orsay with its amazing collection
of Impressionist art (I was impressed), we stopped across the street. Here, in
an 18th century mansion, is housed the Museum of the Legion of Honor,
which displays a fascinating collection of military medals. Napoleon, the 19th century leader
of France, general, dictator and later emperor – the model for future autocrats
-- believed in giving his soldiers medals. Even more, he gave himself bejeweled medals, several of
which were shown in a display case under his portrait as Emperor. You can see many medallions on a long
gold chain draped around his neck, reflecting the highest order of the The Legion of Honor. To impress his
subjects and to glorify himself, he is attired in a long white ermine robe. Some ego!
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| Napoleon's Legion d'Honneur |
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| Napoleon as Emperor |
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| Modest Medals!! |
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| Israel Defense Force Medals |
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| Memorial to Captain Charles Austin |
On view also was the
Purple Heart, a badge for extraordinary
valor in battle, first granted by George Washington to soldiers in the
Revolutionary War. At that time, it was known as The Badge of Military Merit;
later it was given solely to soldiers wounded or killed in the line of duty.
Its simple design conveyed a much more
modest statement of loyalty and sacrifice, befitting those fighting to preserve
a democratic republic.
In the long paneled medal room, drawers slid open to reveal
honors granted by other nations to their soldiers. The State of Israel used
plain colored ribbons hung with unadorned burnished bronze symbols of the
service branch (Army, Navy, Air Force) to honor their soldiers. David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first President,
felt it important to keep commemorations simple and egalitarian, since everyone
in that small nation makes significant sacrifices in military service for a
good part of their adult lives.
The final commemoration came the next day in a small rural
town, Limetz-Villez, en route to Paris from Giverny. Here a sculpture - - made
from a single bent propeller blade from his crashed P-47 Thunderbolt - - honors
an American hero, Captain Charles A. Austin. He was part of the great American
army that had come to fight to preserve freedom in Europe. On July 4, 1944,
Captain Austin’s plane was hit by German anti-aircraft flak. To avoid crashing
into an inhabited French town and killing its innocent citizens, the pilot downed
his plane in the outskirts of the village. In war, all give some and Captain Austin gave all.
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