At 84 years old, Lee Brown still remembers June 6, 1944 vividly.  At four in the morning he was on a boat in the waters off the coast of France.

Brown was a 19 year old Army Ranger, part of a D-Day invasion force that more than 65 years ago helped liberate France.

Now, the veteran works four days a week, starting at 5 a.m., as a Walmart greeter in Alpharetta, GA. Very few shoppers know of the retired soldier’ s heroism, but the French Government wants that to change.

Today Brown’s will be honored with the Legion of Honor, France’s highest honor for any non-French Citizen.  In all, seventeen vets from the Southeastern United states, including five Georgians will be recognized.

Ceremonies have been held all over the U.S. as the French Government locates the veterans.

Brown is planning a trip back to the Normandy coast with his wife and 2 sons next summer.

Others being honored:

Willie E. Lambert; Cumming, GA

Robert E. Philips; Byron, GA

John H. Self; Douglasville, GA

Charles Wilson; Summerville, GA