On Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2009 the National WWII Museum hosted a special ceremony dedicated to the French American friendship. To celebrate this day the "Normandy Liberty Bell" was given to the WWII National Museum and the 5 Louisiana Veterans were bestowed of the French Legion of Honor by French representatives.

Upon the initiative of Daminen Regnard, elected member of the "Assemblée des Français de l’étranger", the French Admiral Brac de la Perrière unveiled the Normandy Liberty Bell, an exact replica of the Liberty Bell of Philadelphia.

The Admiral is Commander of the French Legion of Honor and President of¨ "Normandie Mémoire",an association dedicated to preserving the memory of the American Allies’ sacrifice during World War II.

Melted down in France, the bell is a gift from "Normandie Mémoire" to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, in token of gratitude to the United States of America for liberating France 65 years ago.

On this occasion, French General Gratien Maire, head of the French Military Mission to the U.S. bestowed the French Legion of Honor Medal upon three American veterans from Louisiana: Mr. Daniel Farley, Mr. Raymond Gilbert, Mr. James Cronan Egan, and posthumously upon Mr. Jean Broussard and Mr. Ralph Bourgeois.

Mr. Daniel Farley
Mr. Farley lies about his age, date and place of birth to enlist in the army at the age of 16. Three years later; in January 1944, he is sent to Great Britain and on June 6, 1944, he participates in the Omaha Beach Landings and at Pointe du Hoc with the Fifth Ranger Battalion. In March 1945, he helps liberate the Buchenwald concentration camp. He leaves Europe October 14, 1945. Mr. Farley has received numerable honorary distinctions including the Good Conduct Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and the Bronze Star Medal.

Mr. Raymond Gilbert
Member of the 87th Infantry Division, Mr. Raymond Gilbert begins his military service December 2, 1944, at the Lucky Strike Camp, near the Havre. His unit is then displaced to the East of France near Metz to drive back the Germans from the Maginot line, an action executed successfully in just three weeks. In December 1944, his division is callled to serve in Luxembourg, then in Belgium, and finally in Germany. At the end of the hostilities, Mr. Gilbert is sent to the East of France to await orders to return to the U.S. Mr. Gilbert is released from his military obligations November 12, 1945.

Mr. James Cronan Egan
Mr. Egan enlists in the American army in 1941. In 1944 as a soldier in the 410th Bomb Squadron, he participates military air operations in the center of France, in Normandy, in the Cherbourg region, then in Picardie. His aircraft is the only one of six to escape a German offensive in the English Channel. Mr. Egan had the opportunity to study French at the high school he attended in Coulommiers where his squadron was based. In June 2004, he attends the 60th Anniversary D-Day celebrations in Carentan where he is hosted by the mayor.

Posthumous recognitions:

Mr. Jean Broussard
Mr. Broussard served in the 87th Infantry Division, under the command of General George Patton from March 24, 1944 until June 3, 1946. He served in combat missions near Metz, during which he was wounded on December 14, 1944. As such, he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal; Mr. Broussard has also been awarded the following honorary distinctions: Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Emblem, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the WWII Honorable Service Label Button.

Dr. Ralph Louis Bourgeois
Dr. Bourgeois enlists in the American army August 14, 1942. June 10, 1944, he lands on the shores of Normandy as an officer of the first army led by General Bradley, within a mobile surgery unit where he would serve as Surgeon General. As an officer surgeon, Dr. Bourgeois was active on the front lines of Normandy, in the north of France, the Ardennes, the Rhine, and in Central Europe. He received the following honorary distinctions: Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Five Bronze Stars, Label Button (a medal awarded for outstanding service achievement).
Dr. Bourgeois is part of the group of French-speaking Acadians sent by the U.S. army to help liberate France. As such, he symbolizes to an even greater degree the friendship between France and the United States.