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CNN Live Sunday
War Veteran Sends World War II Medal Back to France
Aired March 16, 2003 - 19:27 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Edward Parks. Never heard of Edward Parks? Well, he is a decorated veteran who fought in Normandy and in the Battle of the Bulge. But Parks says he has had enough and is sending his medal back to France. The story from our Boston affiliate, WCVB.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
EDWARD PARKS, WAR VETERAN: Well, it's a medal presented as meritorious award. And then it can be also presented for valor.
STEVE SBRACCIA, VCVB-TV REPORTER (voice over): In 1944, Ed Parks was a 20-year-old infantry man fighting on the front lines during the battle of Normandy in France.
PARKS: These were things you did. You took this machine gun nest, or often times you would be here, and there would be kind of a rise - would be a farm house and a barn there. And you were told, go take it. We think there's Germans in there.
SBRACCIA: For his action in helping to liberate the country, the French awarded him the Croix de Guerre, a medal for valor. Now he believes the French have forgotten what we did for them.
PARKS: Well, we were the main ones to - the U.S. was - to liberate France.
SBRACCIA: As the French resistance in the United Nations grew, the 79-year-old veteran thought about his medal, deciding it was time for it to go back where it come from.
PARKS: I am trying to find out now whether it should go to the - because there is only one embassy in the country. That's in Washington. And there must be at least a dozen consulates around. There is a consulate in Boston.
SBRACCIA: Beside the plaque honoring his contribution to the liberation of France which hung on his wall so sickened him, and thought, that had to get out of his site too.
PARKS: I go and take that thing off the wall. I couldn't even look at it.
SBRACCIA (on camera): Ed says he realizes his action is merely symbolic, but he is hoping he starts a movement in this country where other folks also engage in symbolic actions against the French. For the eye-opener in Middleboro, I am Steve Sbraccia, News Center Five.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired March 16, 2003 - 19:27 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Edward Parks. Never heard of Edward Parks? Well, he is a decorated veteran who fought in Normandy and in the Battle of the Bulge. But Parks says he has had enough and is sending his medal back to France. The story from our Boston affiliate, WCVB.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
EDWARD PARKS, WAR VETERAN: Well, it's a medal presented as meritorious award. And then it can be also presented for valor.
STEVE SBRACCIA, VCVB-TV REPORTER (voice over): In 1944, Ed Parks was a 20-year-old infantry man fighting on the front lines during the battle of Normandy in France.
PARKS: These were things you did. You took this machine gun nest, or often times you would be here, and there would be kind of a rise - would be a farm house and a barn there. And you were told, go take it. We think there's Germans in there.
SBRACCIA: For his action in helping to liberate the country, the French awarded him the Croix de Guerre, a medal for valor. Now he believes the French have forgotten what we did for them.
PARKS: Well, we were the main ones to - the U.S. was - to liberate France.
SBRACCIA: As the French resistance in the United Nations grew, the 79-year-old veteran thought about his medal, deciding it was time for it to go back where it come from.
PARKS: I am trying to find out now whether it should go to the - because there is only one embassy in the country. That's in Washington. And there must be at least a dozen consulates around. There is a consulate in Boston.
SBRACCIA: Beside the plaque honoring his contribution to the liberation of France which hung on his wall so sickened him, and thought, that had to get out of his site too.
PARKS: I go and take that thing off the wall. I couldn't even look at it.
SBRACCIA (on camera): Ed says he realizes his action is merely symbolic, but he is hoping he starts a movement in this country where other folks also engage in symbolic actions against the French. For the eye-opener in Middleboro, I am Steve Sbraccia, News Center Five.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
