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DOSSIER - SPECIAL
JUNE 2009


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.


M. Louis J. VENDITTI (left) and M. Cipriano GAMEZ (right) at the Air France gate on their way to Paris. June 4, 2009.


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)


Cipriano GAMEZ is greeted at his home by Deputy Consul General, Sidy DIALLO before leaving for the airport.


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.

GALERIE DE PHOTOS/PHOTO GALLERY
Cérémonie au Cimetière et au Mémorial américains de Normandie. Voir le site Elysee.fr
Ceremony at the American Cemetary and Memorial in Normandy. Elysee.fr
More on http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/D-Day/