D-Day Events Honor Pasciak, 99 Others
Walter J. Pasciak had just turned 19 when he took part in one
of the most decisive turning points in military history.
By decision of French President Jacques M. Chirac, Walter, now
a blinded veteran from Lutherville, Maryland, and a member of
the Maryland-DC-Virginia Regional Group, was among 100 veterans
selected by VA to attend activities commemorating D-Day 60 years
later.
Accompanied by his son, Paul, Walter and the 99 others from throughout
the United States arrived at the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott
Hotel the morning of June 3. BVA Director of Government Relations
Rebecca Vinduska and Communications Coordinator Stuart Nelson
met the two for some last-minute photos. Rebecca also presented
Walter with a wood carving of the BVA crest to give as a gift
in France. The carving was made and presented by a friend of Michigan
Regional Group President Sam Work during a recent visit to Thailand.
Sam had sent the piece to BVA National Headquarters.
From the Marriott, the veterans were bused to a reception and
buffet dinner at the French Embassy in downtown Washington, where
they were treated to the screening of the film "Open Arms/D-Day."
"I want you to know that for all of us, for all of the French
people, you are heroes," wrote Ambassador Jean-David Levitte
in a letter to those attending the reception. "Heroes because
we know how much courage, how much bravery it took to land on
those hostile beaches, to drop from those planes, to fight a ferocious
and merciless enemy."
An overnight flight on a Boeing 777-200 from Washington Dulles
to Paris followed the reception. Veterans and their guests received
business class service throughout the cabin. "When we arrived
in Paris, the red carpet rolled out from the plane to the building
must have reached at least a thousand feet," said Walter.
Included in the events June 3-7 was an official award ceremony
June 5 in which all but one of the 100 veterans, including Walter,
received the French Legion of Honor from the Minister of Defense,
Michele Alliot-Marie. Being named Knight of the Legion of Honor
is France’s most prestigious award. The ceremony took place
at the Hotel des Invalides, the most prestigious historic military
building in Paris.
Honorees traveled by special train to the city of Caen and then
by bus to Normandy the next day. Special ceremonies at Normandy
involved 15 heads of state, all of whom were accompanied by at
least one company of soldiers. Several military bands also joined
forces to honor the veterans through music. Large screens 15-20
feet high helped veterans watch and listen to the festivities.
The 100th veteran who had not received the Legion of Honor Award
the previous day was then presented with the insignia of the Legion
of Honor by President Chirac himself.
"They just couldn’t do enough for us over there,"
said Walter. "If you can imagine a police escort everywhere
we went, and then one gift after another and one reception after
another, that’s really what it was—just an unforgettable,
terrific experience for all of us."
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