Commissioner Seefried awarded France's Legion d'Honneur

By Chris Isleib
Public Affairs Officer, World War One Centennial Commission

WASHINGTON, DC: Commissioner Monique Seefried of the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission was decorated as a Chevalier of France's Legion d'Honneur by France's Ambassador to the United States, Gérard Araud, at the embassy residence on January 13th.

The award, bestowed by the President of the French Republic, François Hollande, upon recommendation of the French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, was awarded to her for her long career in education and her work on commemorating the sacrifices of American soldiers in France during World War I.

The Legion d'Honneur is France's highest order of distinction. There are five levels to the national order, with France's president traditionally holding the highest level. The Chevalier, or Knight, level is the inaugural level. The Legion d'Honneur was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802.

Commissioner Seefried, a U.S. citizen born in Tunisia, has served with the U.S. World War One Centennial Commission since 2014, and beyond her work with education and state programs, she is the lead for international partnerships. She was responsible for the recently signed bi-lateral agreement between the United States Commission and the French Mission du Centenaire.

During her tenure, she has been involved with outreach to such organizations as the U.S. Department of Education, the History Channel, the International Baccalaureate organization, and others. She has previously been inducted into France's National Order of Merit and the Order of the Academic Palms.