The membership of Ocean City’s Sons of the American Legion Squadron 524 recently honored deceased post member Ed Weldon by presenting his daughter with her father’s French Chevalier Legion of Honor Award.
Air Force 1st Lieutenant Ed Weldon was a B-17 pilot during World War II credited with missions flown over France, bombing German positions. His aircraft was shot down, and he spent time as a German prisoner of war.
Mr. Weldon died just after his application was submitted to the French government, but the French Ambassador to the United States allowed the award to be presented posthumously to family members.
Before his death, at age 95, Mr. Weldon was promoted to the rank of captain and state Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st) presented him with his Purple Heart. Jay-Louise Weldon presented Post 524 with a framed representation of her father’s Purple Heart award and a book about her father’s military missions flown.
Ed Weldon and his wife, Marie, were residents at The Shores at Wesley Manor when Sons of the American Legion First Vice Commander Steve Koch researched the background information needed to submit Mr. Weldon for his Chevalier award.
The Ambassador of France to the United States regularly honors American veterans of the two world wars expressing France’s gratitude for their service. These vets are inducted into the Legion d’honneur, or Legion of Honor, first established by Napoleon Bonaparte in May 1802. It is the highest decoration bestowed in France.
American recipients include Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and Douglas MacArthur, and even, as an institution, the United States Military Academy at West Point.
— News release from Doug Otto for American Legion Morvay-Miley Post 524
