Dean Poling | The Valdosta Daily TimesGeorge Aigen of Valdosta has been nominated for the National Order of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest, most prestigious award. French Air Force Major Nicolas Delbart signed the nomination Tuesday at the Valdosta Country Club.

VALDOSTA, Ga. — George Aigen recalls hearing one church bell followed by a chorus of church bells while standing on the streets of a French town as an American soldier in 1945.

A Frenchman opened the shutters and yelled, “La guerre est finie.” (The war is over.)

A little girl skipped toward Aigen. She kissed his hand and said, “Merci.” (Thank you.)

Seventy-one years later, the French nation plans to thank the World War II veteran.

Aigen of Valdosta is nominated for the National Order of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest, most prestigious award. Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the order has inducted other Americans such as Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, etc., said Josette Ingram, a French native and president of the Valdosta French Club.

If inducted, Aigen becomes a chevalier, or a knight, of the Legion of Honor. He would receive the award at the French consulate in Atlanta.

French Air Force Major Nicolas Delbart, who has been assigned to Moody Air Force Base for three years, said the nomination is merely a formality. The first step in Aigen receiving the Legion of Honor.

“The people of France are thankful for you,” Delbart said to Aigen. “… You put your lives in danger to bring us freedom. It’s an honor to say thank you to you.”

Delbart spoke of how many miles Aigen and other American soldiers marched throughout Europe during the war. He said his grandfather traveled a similar route and faced similar battles.

“Though you likely never met, you and my grandfather traveled the same paths and fought alongside one another,” Delbart said. “You likely helped free my mother’s family. I personally thank you again.”

The nomination took place Tuesday morning at the Valdosta Country Club. Mayor John Gayle, Lowndes County Commission Chairman Bill Slaughter, city and county officials, military and military organization representatives, friends, family and wife Joyce Aigen attended the ceremony.

Aigen was a 19-year-old Army corporal in April 1945. He had experienced much fighting with the 1269th Combat Engineers Company B.

As an American soldier and as a Jewish male, he’d heard rumors of the Holocaust, the Nazis’ systematic slaughter of the Jews, but he was unprepared for Dachau, a concentration camp he helped liberate.

After the war, Aigen worked, met Joyce whom he married 65 years ago on July 1, raised a family, and moved to Valdosta.

Aigen did not speak of his war experiences for decades.

Louis Schmier, a retired Valdosta State University professor, recounted Tuesday the courage it took for Aigen to share his memories of war and Dachau.

About a decade ago, Schmier talked Aigen into speaking to a class on the Holocaust. The class visit started Aigen on a series of talks. He spoken in 76 public forums on his war experiences and what he witnessed at Dachau.

Aigen has said he does not enjoy recounting the experience, but he shares his story to ensure people understand the Holocaust happened. He has said he offers his testimony to counter those who deny the Holocaust.

Aigen has been honored at the State Capitol, is listed in the Library of Congress and has been honored by the congressional House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., for his service and his willingness to share his experiences with younger generations.

“In the Jewish tradition, it is not only important to remember,” Schmier said, “but it is important to retell what happened so the memories will not be lost.”

Before the ceremony, asked what the Legion of Honor meant to him, George Aigen smiled and paused.

The man who has so often shared his stories of the Holocaust was at a loss for words.