OCEAN CITY – The membership of Ocean City’s Sons of the American Legion Squadron 524 recently honored deceased Post member Ed Weldon, by presenting his daughter with her father’s French Chevalier Legion of Honor Award.
Air Force 1st Lieutenant Ed Weldon, was a B-17 Pilot during WWII credited with missions flown over France, bombing German positions. His aircraft was shot down and he spent time as a German prisoner of war.
Mr. Weldon died just after his application was submitted to the French government, but the French Ambassador to the United States allowed the award to be presented posthumously to family members.
Before his death, at age 95, Mr. Weldon was promoted to the rank of Captain and New Jersey State Senator Jeff Van Drew presented him with his Purple Heart. Jay-Louise Weldon presented Post 524 with a framed representation of her father’s Purple Heart award and a book about her father’s military missions flown.
Ed Weldon and his wife, Marie, were residents at The Shores at Wesley Manor when Sons of the American Legion First Vice Commander, Steve Koch, researched the background information needed to submit Mr. Weldon for his Chevalier award.
The Ambassador of France to the United States regularly honors American veterans of the two world wars expressing France’s gratitude for their service. These vets are inducted into the Legion d’honneur, or Legion of Honor, first established by Napoleon Bonaparte in May, 1802. It is the highest decoration bestowed in France.
American recipients include Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and Douglas MacArthur, and even, as an institution, the United States Military Academy at West Point.
World War II Air Force Veteran Ed Weldon was previously honored for his service by Ocean City’s Sons of the American Legion Squadron 524 as part of their Veterans Appreciation Outreach Program. Weldon was lead pilot of a B52 bomber named The Bad Penny, and he earned the Purple Heart, Air Medal and POW Medal.
Ed’s wife Marie shared that moment with him during a ceremony held at The Shores at Wesley Manor.
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