ATL Standard

World War II veteran and Georgia resident Luciano “Louis” Graziano recently was awarded the French Legion of Honor decades later after fighting to liberate the European ally.

Graziano, 98, was given the honor used to recognize World War II veterans for their role in liberating France from German occupation during a ceremony at the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center in Thompson, Georgia, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.

"France is what it is today, a free and sovereign country, thanks to the bravery of such veterans and thanks to America," Vincent Hommeril, consul general of France in Atlanta, told FOX 5.

Graziano oversaw the American-occupied buildings in Reims, approximately 90 miles west of Paris, including the Little Red Schoolhouse, where the Germans eventually signed surrender documents.

Graziano was born in 1923 to Italian immigrants in East Aurora, New York, according to a Vantage Point post honoring the veteran. After his military training, he was deployed to England, leading a group of 35 soldiers and later taking part in the third wave of the D-Day invasion on Omaha Beach.

Additional awards received by Graziano include a European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, a World War II Victory Medal and a Good Conduct Medal.