Pekin World War II veteran to receive French Legion of Honor medal

World War II veteran Dean Preston, 98, has not yet decided whether or not he will wear his new Legion of Honor medal when he greets visitors at Preston-Hanley Funeral Home in Pekin.

“I didn’t know anything about the Legion of Honor when I was serving in Europe,” Preston said. “I really didn’t think much about it until it came up that I was getting one, and I’m learning more about it all the time.  I still don’t know a lot about it, other than it’s a really important (decoration). I’m very honored to get it.”

Enlisting in the U.S. Army ahead of the draft, the 1942 Pekin Community High School graduate served as a radio repairman in the 927th Signal Battalion. Initially deployed to North Africa, Preston went on to see action in Italy, France and Germany.

His penchant for regaling visitors to the Preston-Hanley Funeral Home with stories of his service resulted in a February 2022 feature in the Pekin Daily Times.

More: At age 97, this Pekin funeral home greeter is sharing good will and WWII memories

That article brought Preston’s service to the attention of WWII Veteran Advocate Eric Montgomery, who contacted Preston-Hanley Funeral Home general manager Buster Hanley with an offer to help Preston apply for France’s highest distinction.

“This honor extends back to the Napoleonic era, awarding those who have accomplished great deeds for France,” Montgomery noted. “The present day application for WWII Veterans requires evidence to be submitted showing their service in a combat zone and exemplary character throughout their life as pre-qualifications.”

Montgomery, inspired by the service of his great-uncle Amin Isbir, who was killed on D-Day, has been helping World War II veterans apply for the Legion d’honneur since 2014 and is familiar with the process.

He spent a month gathering evidence to support Preston’s application and interviewed Preston over the phone several times before submitting his application to the French government for review via the French Consulate in Chicago. French President Emmanuel Macron ultimately approved the application.

Preston will formally receive his Ordre National de la Légion d'honneur during a presentation ceremony at the Preston-Hanley Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 22.

The event will also feature proclamations and addresses from federal, state, and local Legislators that will further honor the life, service, and legacy of Chevalier Preston.

The JROTC Color Guard from Pekin Community High School will post the colors. The public is invited to the ceremony, but space is limited. To reserve a seat, visit prestonpresentation.eventbrite.com.

While Preston has not committed to wearing his medal in the performance of his greeting duties, its presence on his lapel may be an effective segue to stories about his service.

This article originally appeared on Pekin Daily Times: Pekin World War II veteran named French Legion of Honor recipient