HAMILTON, Mont. — In WWII, the courage and sacrifice of young American military troops gave a war-torn people, an ocean away, the gift of freedom.
A Hamilton woman who was born long after the war has made it a mission to pass on her thanks.
NBC Montana met up with Laurence Markarian at the Veteran’s Monument in Hamilton.
She explored the names of military service members etched on the stone panels, and discovered the names of men who served in France in both WWI and WWII.
She appreciates their sacrifice for fighting for France in both World Wars.
Laurence is an American citizen with dual citizenship.
She was born and raised in France.
In WWII, Germany divided France into two zones.
Adolph Hitler invaded northern France, including Paris.
“The Germans occupied cities and very rapidly went westward to control the coasts,” said Laurence. “The southern half was called the Free Zone. It was not entirely free, but it was called the Free Zone.”
Many parents stayed in the Occupied Zone to protect their homes and assets.
But Laurence said many French families sent their children to the so-called Free Zone in the south to keep them safe.
Laurence’s mother was only six when she left her home in Paris.
“She never saw her mother again,” said Laurence, ” because her mother had tuberculosis, and she died in between, so they never were reunited.”
Laurence said many French families have stories like that.
As a classical pianist, she wrote and produced ‘Philippe’s Escape,’ a musical about The Occupation.
“Philippe’s Escape,” she said, ” is about a French boy, who is trying to escape from WWII in France from The Occupation, and from the ordeal that all French children and adults were facing.”
She wanted Philippe to represent all children of The Occupation.
It’s about the relationship between France and the United States, she said of the play.
Laurence said the goal was to tell the story of how war affects families, a story of “relationship and the pursuit of happiness.”
In France, Laurence excelled in academics, studying commerce and international law.
She speaks fluent German.
After coming to the United States, she became Montana’s Honorary Consule for France.
The title means she is the official French representative for the French government in the state of Montana.
She helps French citizens in Montana with many issues, like passports, visas, or medical or legal issues.
She has worked with the French government to find and honor military service members who liberated France from the Nazis.
Americans and their allies sealed the defeat of the Germans at Normandy in 1944.
So far, seventeen WWII Montanans who served France were approved to be awarded the Medal of the Legion of Honor.
The medal, said Laurence, holds “very high distinction in France,” and honors people who have have shown “great heroism.”
“Every time I did a presentation of the medal,” she said, ” it was on behalf of the President of the Republic of France.”
Recipients have come from all over Montana.
“ From Eureka to Glasgow to Anaconda, Hamilton, Missoula, and Bozeman,” said Laurence. ” There were from everywhere, mostly ranchers and farmers in the day. Tough people.”
One of those recipients was the late George Apple of Lewistown.
Laurence said she can’t thank men like George enough.
“They were kids,” she said when they went to war. ” They were 17, 18, 19 years old. They were shipped across the ocean. They went to save people that they did not know. But they were firm believers in freedom.”
Laurence said it’s been a few years since she has awarded the medal.
If there other such men who might qualify for the honor, she would love to hear from them or their families.
Every day, more and more WWII veterans are passing away.
“I grew up in a country that was free because of this huge effort,” she said. “To be able to be in person face to face with some of these people who had contributed to that freedom, that was something very special.”
The honor goes all the way back to Napoleon.
The medal that those Montana WWII veterans received meant they became “Official Knights of the Legion of Honor.”