Phil McNamara of Centerville receives Legion of Honor Medal at 70th Anniversary of D-Day
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When: | July 30, 2014 |
| Where: | Hyannis Yacht club |
| Time: | 11:00 AM |
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Description:
Philip McNamara (89) of Centerville receives the prestigious Legion of Honor Medal at a 70th anniversary celebration of D-Day, held at the Hyannis Yacht club, organized by the D-Day veterans of Cape Cod. Mr. Fabien Fieschi, Consul General of France in Boston, presented this Legion of Honor Medal in French to Philip McNamara and 5 other World War II veterans present. This award, established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, is Frances highest, and pays tribute to those who have provided exceptional services to France. Led by Allied forces, the liberation of the northern French region of Normandy marked the decisive turn toward the end of WWII. Phil McNamara attended the 6 June event with his four sons Philip, Kevin (and his wife Melanie), John and Patrick (and his wife Erica). In addition, Massachusetts National Guard Adjutant General Scott Rice presented his remarks. All of the six Legion of Honor Medal recipients received an individualized congratulatory citation from Congress-man Bill Keatings office as well as from the State House of Representatives. During World War II, Phil McNamara was a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot assigned to the 377th Fighter Squadron of the Army Air Corps in support of General Patton's third Army. He went on to complete a 42 year professional military career, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard at the 102nd Fighter Wing, stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base (now part of Joint Base Cape Cod). After retirement he remained actively involved with the Massachusetts Air National Guard by being the President of the Otis Aero Club. He was a founding member of the club which provided all Otis Air Force Base civilians and military personnel and their dependents an opportunity to learn how to fly. There was rarely a time when anyone talked to him without a quick story about airplanes and flying. His passion for flying was ever present in both his professional and personal life. Philip enjoyed and taught many students how to fly. He was an FAA Certified Flight Instructor and received the prestigious FAA Wright Brothers Award in 2007 for accumulating over 50 years of flying. Philip McNamara and his son Patrick are active members of the Cape Area Pilots Association.
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