Two Prince George Second World War veterans will receive France's highest honour this weekend.
John Kuharchuk and Armand Denicola will be made chevaliers (knights) of the Legion d'Honneur in a ceremony at the Royal Canadian Legion on Saturday. Kuharchuk and Denicola are among 436 Canadian D-Day veterans who will receive the award this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Normandy, which saw the Allies create a foothold in German-occupied France and eventually led to the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi control.
MLA Shirley Bond will present the men with the medals on behalf of French President Francois Hollande, Legion zone president John Scott said. The presentation will be made at a sold-out luncheon event at the Legion.
"It's a big, big thing," Jean-Christophe Fleury, the consul general of France in Vancouver, said. "You won't find a higher recognition in France. It's only given to very significant people."
Prior to this year, less than 30 Canadians had been admitted into the Legion d'Honneur, Fleury said. Recipients include singer Celine Dion and Sir Arthur Currie - the general who led Canadian troops in the First World War, including the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
The Legion d'Honneur, created in 1802 by French Emperor Napolon Bonaparte, recognizes military heroism and civilian contributions.
Fleury said Canadian soldiers were singled out for the honour. British, American and other soldiers who took part in D-Day will not receive the Legion d'Honneur medals.
"We wanted to do something special with Canada," he said.
To qualify, soldiers must have participated in the D-Day landings with the Canadian Army, Fleury said.
Fleury said he wasn't invited to participate in the ceremony on Saturday, but has presented the Legion d'Honneur to other veterans in Western Canada.
"[Even] if I wanted to present every one in less than a year, it would be impossible anyway... because there are so many," he said.
