On June 30, 2015, the Consulate General of France formally presented the Legion of Honor award to 28 courageous American World War II veterans who fought for French freedom.

Edwin Parker — who goes by Mr. Parker — was among this elite group that were decorated as Knights in the French Legion of Honor. The recipients were honored at a ceremony held at the Oceanside Country Club in Ormond Beach, Florida. This award is the highest French distinction that can be conferred on French citizens, as well as citizens from other countries.

Mr. Parker is a part-time sales executive for S. Freedman & Sons, Inc., a Landover, Maryland-based distributor. He conducts business from, and lives in, The Villages in Sumter County, Florida.

According to the French Consulate in Miami website, “Paying tribute to World War II American Veterans who fought alongside France during the Second World War is a way to express France’s gratitude toward those who risked their lives — and in many cases, gave their lives — defending liberty.”

Since 2004, American veterans who fought in World War II on French territory qualify to be decorated as Knights of the Legion of Honor. Veterans must have participated in one of the four main campaigns of the Liberation of France: Normandy, Provence, Ardennes, or Northern France.
Mr. Parker was attending college at Ohio State University when the United States entered World War II.

“I was drafted in 1943 and served in the U.S. Army Air Force,” says Mr. Parker.

During the war, Mr. Parker was a corporal in the Headquarters and Service Squadron 478th Air Service Group. He participated in the Battle of Normandy, the Battle of the Rhineland and the Liberation of Northern France.

For his service, he has received the Good Conduct Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, the Purple Heart Medal and the World War II Victory Ribbon.

When asked about his experience in France during the war, Mr. Parker said simply, “We had a job to do and we got it done.”

After the war, Mr. Parker went back to Ohio State and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1948. Now 91 years old, he started working for the S. Freedman and Sons organization in 1952 when it was known as the Crown Supply Company.

Presenting the Legion of Honor medal to Mr. Parker were Consul General of France Philippe Létrilliart and Captain Alexandre Buttard of the French Detachment of US CENTCOM in Tampa, Florida. Mike White, retired director of Volusia County Veterans Affairs, also participated in the ceremony.

“The French government was very generous,” says Mr. Parker.

Gretchen Roufs, a 25-year janitorial supply industry veteran, owns a marketing and public relations company in San Antonio. To suggest someone you think should be featured in “Freetime,” contact her at Gretchen@GretchenRoufs.com.




POSTED ON: 11/17/2015