WWII Veterans receive their medals For their sacrifices to protect American freedoms, Francis Bliss of New Vineyard and his late wife, Second Lt. Frances Bliss, were presented at long last with their World War II medals in a ceremony at the New Vineyard Public Library recently. Sen. Tom Saviello, who gave Bliss his medals along with Rep. Russell Black, recalled how the presentation came about. About a year ago, Francis son, David Bliss, called Saviello and told him that his father didnt have his war medals. Immediately, Saviello knew he had to do something. I just do it. I dont go to Congress or anything, he said. Its a personal thing for me. Saviello said that his dad was a Merchant Marine. However, he wasnt recognized as a veteran for many years. When Congress finally recognized Merchant Marines as veterans 30 years ago, Saviellos dad called him crying. He said, Im a veteran today, said Saviello. He added that if it wasnt for people like his dad, wed be writing in Japanese now, if we were allowed to write. I made a promise that day, he said. I promised I would find a way to say Thank you. Gov. Paul LePage and the Adjutant General of Maine signed certificates for the late Second Lt. Bliss. For his actions in WWII, Francis was presented with a WWII Victory Medal, an Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, an African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and a European Campaign Medal. After he received the medals, Bliss told a story of going back to France to visit in the 1990s. While he was there, he hit his head and had to go the hospital. At the hospital, he mentioned he had been in France in 1944, and that made him the center of attention. They were looking for someone who was actually there, he said. Bliss remembered that during the war, he was a translator between the French and American forces. I was the only one who could speak French, he said. I was constantly on call. His son, David, said he was glad his father had a chance to receive his medals while he was still alive. Its great, he said. Im surprised that he never picked them up.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 17:51:06 +0000