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12 VETERANS Reporter News www.VeteransReporterNews.com January 1 %u2022 2025Las Vegas WWII Veterans 102 years old PFC Onofrio(No No) Zicari Receive France%u2019s highest honor,%u201dThe French Legion of Honor Medal%u201d%u25a0 Len Yelinek Former U.S. Army Private First Class Onofrio Zicari was awarded the French Legion of Honor Award January 6th during a ceremony at the Silverton Hotel.Adrien Frier, the French Consul General, presented Zicari with the medal, as gratitude from the country of France for Zicari%u2019s participation in the invasion of Omaha Beach during World War II. Local historian Mark Hall-Patton explained the significance of the D-Day invasion and the hardships and casualties endured by the U.S. military and allied forces during that fateful day on June 6, 1944, fighting the Nazi military.Local philanthropist Bob Reed who arranged for the French government to present the award in Las Vegas has been instrumental in having numerous WW II veterans in Southern Nevada receive the decoration. Fred Wagar, former director of the Nevada Department of Veteran Services, was the master of ceremonies for the event during which Brigadier General Troy Armstrong, Asst. Adjutant of the Nevada National Guard and Colonel Mary Devine, current Director of the Nevada Department of Veteran Services, also spoke.Zicari, who is 102 years-old, and whose nickname is %u201cNo-no%u201d was wounded during the invasion, but due to paperwork complications was not awarded the Purple Heart medal. However, that was corrected in 2021 when he received it during a meeting of the Las Vegas City Council. He is now a member of local Chapter 711 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. The ceremony began with Stuart Wishhart Bagpipes leading the Nellis AFB Honor Guard for presentation of colors. The French national anthem was sung by Sylvie Boise and Laura Shaffer sang the U. S. national anthem. Larry Ransom III, ended the ceremony playing Taps on his bugle.