A ceremony on Bastille Day honoring three Rhode Island WWII Veterans for their service in liberating France.
Who: WaterFire Providence
What: A ceremony on Bastille Day honoring three Rhode Island WWII Veterans
Where: Rhode Island World War II Memorial in Memorial Park in Providence
When: Friday, July 14th, 2017 at 6:00 PM.
Why: In gratitude the Republic of France is awarding knighthoods in the French Legion of Honor to: John Dunnigan, Raymond Gillis, and Leo Héroux.
The ceremony will be performed by French Consul General Valery Freland accompanied by Rhode Island Honorary Consul to France Roger Begin in front of the Rhode Island World War II Memorial in Memorial Park in Providence, Rhode Island on Bastille Day, Friday, July 14th, 2017 at 6:00 PM.
Rose Weaver will sing The Star Spangled Banner and La Marseillaise. The Ceremony will conclude with a toast from a sabered bottle of Champagne presented by Robert Burke in honor of the RI veterans. Following the ceremony the U.S. Coast Guard Brass Quintet is doing a public concert.
First Lieutenant John J. Dunnigan
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, First Lieutenant John J. Dunnigan enlisted in the Army Air Force on December 8th, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor. Having received special training in new Pathfinder radar technology, Lieutenant Dunnigan was assigned as Group Leader Bombardier in the 351st Bombardment Group of the 8th Army Air Force. Serving in the Air Force from January 23rd 1943 to October 12th, 1945, First Lieutenant John J. Dunnigan served in several battles throughout France including: Paris, Caen, Chateauroux, Dijon, Tours, Cherbourg, Boulogne, Saumur and Saint Lo. After a raid in central Germany, First Lieutenant John Dunnigan received a presidential citation for his heroism as well as his, “Courage, coolness and skill.”
Technician Raymond Gillis
Born in Newport, Rhode Island, Technician Raymond Gillis was inducted in the army on December 28th, 1942 as part of the 965th Field Artillery Battery C. Technician Gillis worked as a telephone lineman for the forward observation post in the regions of Ardennes, Normandy and Northern France. While stationed in Normandy, the 965th Field Artillery Battery C was chosen to follow U.S. General George Patton to a nearby bridge, in which they were fired on before arrival. Technician Gillis and his team stayed in Normandy for several days with the General before continuing various missions in France.
Technician Gillis is a recipient of the American Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the E-A-ME Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Private Leo Héroux
Leo Héroux,93, is a resident of Central Falls, RI who served in the Army and disembarked in Normandy on D-Day. He served in company A, 48th engineering Battalion. A native from Lowell, Massachusetts, Private Héroux was stationed from March 8th 1943 to October 25th, 1945 where he cleaned beaches, built bridges and marked mine fields. At age 19, Private Leo Héroux was assigned as an amphibious engineer in the Company A 48th Engineer Combat Battalion.
Private Héroux participated in several battles and campaigns in France during the war, particularly in the regions of Ardennes, Normandy, and Northern France. He has been a recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Croix de Guerre.
Bilingual in French and English, Private Héroux moved back to France in 1948 with his wife whom he met during the war. Today three of his children live near Avignon, France while another lives in Montreal, Canada.
About the Legion of Honor
Established in 1802 by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, it is exclusively awarded in cases of exemplary military and civilian services. It is the oldest and highest honor in France. The Legion of Honor is awarded by decree of the President of the French Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron. Since the 60th anniversary of D-Day, France recognizes every year many American Veterans of the World War II for their courageous service.
