Gaining French Respect

What do Barbara Streisand and retired Republican congressman Amo Houghton from Corning NY have in common? They both have been recipients of the French Legion of Honor decoration which is the highest honor one can receive from the French government.

In a recent post on the site La Vie de Petite Brigitte (July 1st Well Hello Sarko), the question is posed, “Do they give that medal to just about anyone?” Not exactly. Like a girl scout merit badge, you need to be deemed of eminent merit, with the emphasis on ‘eminent’. The medal can be conferred to foreigners as well as Frenchmen (there are over 87,000 ‘knights) plus various levels. Recipients have ranged from sports stars, to entrepreneurs, civil servants and even organizations as varied as the Red Cross and the SNCF.

Fiinally it looks like they’ve awarded the Legion d’honneur to a person for whom Napoleon (the creator of the medal)might have given his thumbs up.

According to Erin Kelly’s report in today’s Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Rep. Houghton formed the Congressional French Caucus, a bipartisan group of House members and senators with the goal of promoting cooperation between France and the US - it was in response to the backlash engendered by France’s refusal to follow the US lead into Iraq.

Houghton, a World War II vet, was one of the few Republicans who voted against the US invasion of Iraq. (along with Rep. Charles Hagy, a Vietnam War veteran from Nebraska).

Houghton received his Legion of Honor medal from French ambassador to the U.S., Jean-David Levitte. Houghton’s actions were described as an act of bravery.

Houghton hails from Corning, New York where he was CEO of Corning Inc. before becoming a Congressman in 1986.