The French know the meaning of bravery and honor

France is often the butt of jokes, especially when it comes to their military, but they stepped up and did the right thing Monday at a time when America would have dropped the ball.

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The French wasted no time to present their highest honor for bravery to the three Americans and one Brit, shown here with French President Francois Hollande. (voanews)

Three courageous Americans and a Brit were honored in Paris yesterday as they were presented France’s highest honor for bravery for preventing a terrorist blood bath on a high speed train between Belgium and France.

None other than French President Francois Hollande presented Legion d’Honneur medals to Americans Spencer Stone, Alex Skartatos and Anthony Sadler and Briton Chris Norman at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

That was a far cry from the ordeal victims and families endured after the Nov. 5, 2009 shooting at Fort Hood. It took six years of letter-writing and even legislation to honor the 10 soldiers killed and 26 wounded with a Purple Heart, and Defense of Freedom Medals to two civilians, one who was killed and another wounded.

And are you ready for this? We’re told that those four Marines recently killed and another wounded by the terrorist in Chattanooga, Tennessee must wait to be honored while a “determination of eligibility” is conducted to be sure the shooter had ties to a terror organization.

I hope you will remember this the next time you hear our president talk about how proud he is of the military, and all of the work being done by Michelle with military families. One would think that a call from the commander-in-chief to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter would expedite the much-deserved recognition for our dead and wounded.

Our warriors deserve better. At least the French understand the meaning of bravery and honor.