Four months after receiving France’s highest order of merit for military and civil service through the mail, a 95-year-old local veteran was honored by the French government with a formal presentation ceremony.
Marvin Sabatino received the French Legion of Honor from two French officials during a formal ceremony in Indianapolis Sunday afternoon.
More than 200 people gathered inside the Indiana World War Memorial Museum to witness Sabatino and another World War II veteran, 98-year-old Daniel Mattingly of Tipton, as they were formally honored by the French government.
Friends, family members and guests gave the two veterans a standing ovation after they were presented their honors by Consul General of France Guillaume Lacroix and Honorary Counsel of France to Indiana Martin Baier.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Both men received the Legion of Honor for their participation in the liberation of France from June through August of 1944 during World War II. During the ceremony, Sabatino wore a World War II cap with his service bars attached.
Since the French Legion of Honor cannot be awarded to a foreign citizen posthumously, the French government mailed the medal and certificates to Sabatino’s home on Shannon Court in early August, “just in case something happened,” according to friend and AMVETS member Rob Darringer.
However, it was always the intention of France that a formal ceremony would be conducted when a representative of the French government was available, Darringer said.
While Sabatino did not plan on speaking during Sunday’s ceremony, he said he changed his mind after Mattingly made a brief speech.
His words were in line with earlier comments that he felt unworthy and uncomfortable to be honored.
“I told the crowd I believed they were as humbled as I was, but that I didn’t believe they came to see me,” Sabatino said. “I said they came for the 18 million that did not come back home. That got quite a lot of applause.”
It was only after he served as grand marshal of the France-themed 2018 Ethnic Expo parade that representatives from the French consulate approached Sabatino about being a recipient of the Legion of Honor. He said he was reluctant to ask for or receive the honor for two reasons.
“I don’t like getting up in front of a big crowd, because it’s way out of my line,” Sabatino said before the ceremony. “But mostly, I don’t feel I’m in the category of someone who gave up their life.”
For his service, Sabatino was awarded several distinctions including the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, the WWII Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Meritorious Unit Award.
The 95-year-old veteran was delighted that more than a dozen relatives came from different areas of the Midwest to watch the ceremony. His daughter-in-law, Susan Sabatino, had arranged a family reunion inside a Marion County restaurant three hours before the 2 p.m. ceremony at the Indiana War Memorial at 55 E. Michigan St.
During the event, Darringer distributed a booklet he had written regarding Sabatino’s service. Darringer also received a large planter of flowers, as well as a bottle of wine, from the French government, he said.
Sabatino isn’t the first Bartholomew County veteran to receive the French Legion of Honor. Just a few years ago, another World War II veteran, Charles B. “Red” Whittington, received the honor during a ceremony in Kansas City, Missouri.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About the French Legion of Honor ” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The Legion of Honor is the highest distinction that France can bestow upon those who have achieved remarkable deeds for France.
Founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the National Order of the Legion of Honor recognizes eminent service to the French Republic. Recipients of this honor are named by decree signed by the President of the Republic.
American and British veterans who served in either World War I on French soil,or during the 1944 campaigns to liberate France, may be eligible for appointment as Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, provided they were still living when the award was approved.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
