U.S. vet returns French war flag to Paris

MSNBC ^ | 9/19/2010 | Angela Doland

[Immerito]

PARIS — On the day Paris was liberated from the Nazis in 1944, a young American soldier nabbed a souvenir of epic proportions: He took home the French flag that hung from the Arc de Triomphe, a symbol of the end of four years of struggle and shame.

Six and a half decades later, the aging veteran has given the flag back to the city of Paris.

Officials from Paris City Hall took possession of the 12-meter (13-yard) tricolor flag Saturday in a ceremony in southern France, a step in its unusual journey from New York state back home to Paris. The American veteran remains anonymous, too ashamed to come forward.

[Immerito]

Mr. Veteran,

You, sir, have great honor.

Thank you for your service. If you are a Freeper, I hope you read this.

[mckenzie7]

Amen!

[Pecos]

I disagree. He stole the national ensign of an allied power, at the height of their national clebration of freedom - and now feels guilty enough to return it. Not much honor in that. His service to the U.S. is a different matter, and I thank him for that.

[Immerito]

In my view, the honor comes in his decision to return it. Sometimes, being honorable includes righting a past wrong, no matter how long ago the past wrong was committed.