From Dr. Selig –
“I received this letter from M Philippe Etienne, Ambassador of France to the United States, informing me that on 7 February 2022, President Emmanuel Macron had signed a decree nominating me a chevalier of the Ordre national du Mérite. The French National Order of Merit, founded on 3 December 1963 by President Charles de Gaulle, is awarded by the President of the French Republic independent of the nationality of the recipient for distinguished military or civil achievements. It is the highest medal awarded to foreigners since the Legion of Honor, with which it has a common Chancellor and Chancery, is generally reserved for French citizens. Since it is in recognition of my work on the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route I asked to be given the insignia during Yorktown Day this fall during a brief ceremony at the French memorial in Yorktown on 19 October.”
AMBASSADE
DE FRANCE
AUX ÉTATS-UNIS
Liberté
Égalité
Fraternité
L’Ambassadeur
NO 2022-0115012
Washington D.C., March 8, 2022
Dear Sir,
Please accept my warmest congratulations for your nomination to the rank of Knight in the French National Order of the Merit, by decree of the President of the French Republic on February 7, 2022.
This award reflects the deep gratitude of our authorities for your important contribution, as a brilliant specialist of the role of French forces under Count de Rochambeau during the American Revolutionary War, to the mutual friendship between France and the United States of America and to the promotion of the contribution of France to American independence. I would like to salute in this regard your prominent role in the National Park Service’s Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Project. will inform you as soon as we receive the insignias and diploma.
Once again, please accept my deepest congratulations for this award.
Sincerely yours,
Philippe Etienne
