Why? Am I the only one incensed at this award? When I make a comment about it , people say, why, don't you like Elton John? It has nothing to do with that, it is the fact that a singer and charity fund raiser, can get an honour, when men have risked their lives and waited a lifetime to receive it, I think it devalues the award.
It was always a Political, Civic & military award. It's always been awarded to foreigners too, I think. His award is more in the normal scheme of things, but the ones being handed to 'Liberators' must be a rather more substantial programme, & I can't see that the French would want to award them without some ceremonial, so presumably that takes a lot more time, given the numbers on the list & the application process, regardless of the age of chaps on it. Guessing, but would think it might require a separate team to administrate. Though French government honours systems are not exactly my bag. How long have they waited? The Gov.uk forms for the awards seem to have gone public in 2014: D-Day 70: application form for award of the Legion D’Honneur. I don't like Sir Elton much, mostly for offences against my musical taste, (though he deserves some credit for Rocket Man & a couple of others), but am completely failing to be bothered that a foreign government has given him an honour. Their system. Their timescale.
Did they really wait a lifetime for it? Were they promised it back in 44 ? Did the Veterans gather down the pub & ask eachother what had happened to their froggie gongs ? French can give awards to whoever they like for what they like same as we can.
I must be mellowing. When I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues came up randomly on YouTube the other day, I not only let it play but actually sang along to the chorus. The video was all 50s and national service. Not sure I'd have given him a gong for that alone, mind you, but I also find it hard to get very worked up about this topic.
After decades of loathing, except for Rocket Man, I bought a best of in a charity shop for a quid for a few nostalgia tracks. Mellowing indeed. Still unforgiven for all that Princess Diana mawkish nonsense, though...
Ah well its because he lives in France so donating lots of his money to French charities - understand he may be buying another home in Russia near Mr Putin TD
I actually bought a copy of the Candle in the Wind CD. Goodness knows why. Possibly the charity connection. Can't remember. Long time ago.
