Five Iowa veterans who served in World War One will receive France’s highest honor this week. The Legion of Honor medal will be given to two of theelderly veterans in a ceremony at 2 p-m today (Wednesday) in Des Moines. French officials chose last fall to bestow the awards upon Allied troops who served in World War One. A spokesman for the Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Des Moines,Jack Hackett, says the French Deputy Consul General will be in Iowa’s capitol city to present the medals today as Governor Vilsack watches. Hackett says the Legion of Honor medal is France’s top decoration for anyone, civilian or military. These presentations mark the 80th anniversary of the armistace of World War One.102-year-old Emmett Johns of Des Moines and 100-year-old Clifton Struthers of Perry will receive their medals today. Also being honored today: Isaac Martin of Decatur City (his family will attend the ceremony) and Lee Traskof Lehigh, who died late last year. Trask’s son will accept his medal. Another ceremony will be held tomorrow at 9:30 a-m in Morning Sun todecorate Campbell Granaman who is in a nursing home in that Louisa County town.
