STUART, Fla. (CBS12) — As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, stories like Robert Crecco’s serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made to protect freedom.
The 101-year-old World War II veteran was recently awarded France’s highest distinction, the Legion of Honor, during a ceremony surrounded by family, fellow veterans and friends at Addington Place of Stuart.
The honor, established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, is France’s highest civilian and military award. It recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to France, including Allied veterans who helped liberate the country during World War II.
A representative from the French Consulate traveled to Stuart to personally present Crecco with the medal.
“Today, it is truly an honor for me to thank you for your service and to present you with the French Legion of Honor,” the representative told him during the ceremony.
Crecco was just a young soldier when he landed on Omaha Beach in Normandy shortly after D-Day. Weeks later, while fighting in France, he was wounded in combat and later received the Purple Heart.
“Thinking about all the basic training that they gave us and how we always looked upon it as not very serious, and now I’m in a very serious situation,” Crecco recalled.
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More than 80 years later, he said receiving France’s highest honor was something he never expected.
“Well, it feels great because I never thought about it, receiving such an honor,” Crecco said.
The ceremony also doubled as a celebration of his 101st birthday, with attendees singing and applauding as Crecco reflected on a life marked by service and sacrifice.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, fewer than 100,000 World War II veterans remain alive today. Crecco hopes future generations never forget the price that was paid for freedom.
The 101-year-old World War II veteran was recently awarded France’s highest distinction, the Legion of Honor, during a ceremony surrounded by family, fellow veterans and friends at Addington Place of Stuart. (WPEC)
“It was a war where everybody did their part to make us victorious in a war that had to be won,” he said.
Despite the recognition, Crecco remains humble. When asked what he is most proud of after more than a century of life, his answer was simple.
“Of being born here. That’s the thing I’m most proud of.”
For those who know him, the ceremony was about more than honoring one man. It was a chance to recognize an entire generation whose courage helped shape history and preserve freedom around the world.