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DOSSIER - SPECIAL
JUNE 2009
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65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE D-DAY LANDING
NORMANDY FRANCE, JUNE 6, 2009 |
ON THE OCCASION OF THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE D-DAY LANDING
TWO MIDWEST VETERANS AWARDED THE FRENCH LEGION OF HONOR
IN PARIS ON JUNE 5TH, 2009
M.
Cipriano GAMEZ of Highland (Northwest Indiana) and M. Louis J. VENDITTI
of South Chicago Heights (Illinois) were awarded France’s highest
distinction the Legion of Honor in Paris in the afternoon of June 5,
2009 during a special celebration commemorating the 65th anniversary of
the D-Day Landing.
On June 6, Mr. Cipriano GAMEZ and Louis J.
VENDITTI joined French President Nicolas SARKOZY and U.S. President
Barack OBAMA at the Official Ceremony taking place in Colleville-sur-Mer
in Normandy.
They returned to the U.S on June 8th, and were
greeted upon their arrival at the airport by French Consul General
Jean-Baptiste de Boissière.
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M. Louis J. VENDITTI (left) and M. Cipriano GAMEZ (right) at the Air France gate on their way to Paris.
June 4, 2009.
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Louis VENDITTI (center) at
his home prior to his departure to the airport in presence of his
daughter Rosemary KIRGIS and his son in law Charles KIRGIS who
accompanied him to France. Representatives of the Consulate general of
France in Chicago escorted them to the airport: Sébastien WALKER (far
left) and Sidy DIALLO, Deputy Consul General (far left)
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Cipriano GAMEZ is greeted at his home by Deputy
Consul General, Sidy DIALLO before leaving for the airport.
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O'Hare Airport, June 8, 2009
Consul General of France, Jean-Baptiste Main de Boissière
welcomes back M. Venditti and M. Gamez at the arrival of Air France flight from Paris.
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Mr. Cipriano Gamez and Mr. Louis J. Venditti
were part of group of 38 United States WWII veterans who landed in
Normandy and fought several important battles and distinguished
themselves for their heroism and bravery. All are recipients of the
Legion of Honor who were decorated in France as a part of the official
celebration. Founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the National Order
of the Legion of Honor is the highest honor in France. It recognizes
eminent service to the French Republic. Recipients of this honor are
named by decree signed by the President of the Republic.
Mr. Cipriano GAMEZ
Enlisted at 20 years old, Mr. Cipriano Gamez joined the
508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division as a
Private First Class in December 1943. He jumped in Normandy on D-Day,
June 6th, 1944, and fought in both Normandy and Northern France
Campaigns. Then he participated in the Rhineland and Central Europe
Campaigns. After being wounded during Operation Market Garden in
Holland, he joined the 342nd Infantry Regiment of the 86th Infantry
Division. For his services, the American Government awarded him several military decorations:
Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, Good Conduct Ribbon, WWII
Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, European, African and Middle
Eastern Theater Ribbon with four Bronze Stars), American Theater Ribbon,
Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation.
Mr. Louis J. VENDITTI
Drafted in 1942, Louis J. Venditti was assigned to an
Armored Division as a Private. Six months later, he volunteered for the
Airborne. At 21, he joined the 506th Parachutist Infantry Regiment of
the mythic 101st Airborne Division. He jumped in Normandy on D-Day, June
6th, 1944, to prepare the landing for the ground forces. Then he
participated in the Normandy, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe
Campaigns. After being wounded in Holland on October 6th, 1944 and being
taken care of at the 92nd General Hospital, he went back to the front
in the Ardennes. For his services, the American Government awarded him several military decorations:
The Bronze Star Medal, The Purple Heart Medal, The Good Conduct Medal,
The WWII Victory Medal, The Combat Infantryman Badge, European, African
and Middle-Eastern Theater Ribbon with four Bronze Battle Stars and two
Bronze Arrowheads, Distinguished Unit Badge, 4 Overseas Service bars,
Presidential Unit Citation with cluster (for Normandy and Bastogne). Other military decorations include:
The French Fourragère (for the Invasion of Normandy), The Belgian
Fourragère (for the Battle of Bastogne), The Order of the Orange Lanyard
(for the invasion of Holland). Mr. Venditti is retired from the
Chicago Fire Dept as a Captain. |
Related press articles
Southtown Star (IL) - June 1st, 2009- "South Chicago Heights man to receive France's highest honor for WWII service - WWII vet to be awarded French Legion of Honor". Read.
Chicago Tribune (IL) - June 6, 2009: "World
War II hero from South Chicago Heights receives France's highest honor
- WW II paratrooper from the south suburbs is back on French soil to
pick up Legion of Honor" - Read.
Northwest Indiana Star (IN) - May 28, 2009: "Two local WWII vets to be feted in Paris" -
Read. |
REMISE DE LA LEGION D'HONNEUR DANS LA COUR DES INVALIDES LE 5 JUIN 2009
Des vétérans américains, britanniques et canadiens décorés de la Légion d'honneur |
Les commémorations
du 65ème anniversaire du débarquement des forces alliées en Normandie
ont débuté vendredi 5 juin avec la remise de la Légion d’Honneur à des
vétérans américains, britanniques et canadiens, dans la cour d’honneur
de l’Hôtel national des Invalides (Paris, 7e). Hervé Morin, ministre de
la Défense a présidé cette cérémonie en compagnie de Jean-Marie Bockel,
Secrétaire d’Etat à la Défense et aux anciens combattants, des
ambassadeurs des Etats-Unis et de Grande Bretagne, du secrétaire d’état
américain aux anciens combattants, du sous-secrétaire d’Etat britannique
à la Défense, du chef d’état-major des armées et des trois chefs
d’états-majors d’armées.
Lire l'article sur le site defense.gouv.fr . |
Le cimetière américain de Colleville-sur-Mer.
Photo DMPA |
Allocution de
M. le Président de la République Nicolas Sarkozy à l’occasion de la
cérémonie de commémoration du débarquement en Normandie
Voir la video
Allocution de M. Barack H. OBAMA,
Président des Etats-Unis d’Amérique à l’occasion de la cérémonie de
commémoration du débarquement en Normandie.
See the video.
President Obama’s Speech at D-Day 65th Anniversary
Ceremony honors heroes who changed 20th century
06 June 2009. Read transcript. |
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