The Ordre National du Mérite was founded on 3rd December 1963, by General De Gaulle, President of the Republic, within the reform of the French national orders system.
To commemorate its 50th Anniversary the Musée de la Légion d’honneur, in Paris, organized an Exhibition which was solemnly opened, on the 13th July, by the President of the Republic François HOLLANDE, the Grand Master of the Order
In his speech, after opening and visiting the Exhibition, President François Hollande emphasized the importance of this commemoration on the eve of the 14th July and the fact that the order is one the symbols of dedication and service.
He then evoked the personalities involved in the creation of the Order, namely General Catroux and General De Gaulle and paid his tribute to several personalities who gave their contribution to the Exhibition, namely to Françoise Branca the son Max Leognany the designer of the orders’ insignia, who lended to the Museum his father’s archives.
According to the President, General De Gaulle by creating this Order wanted to consolidate national unity, five years after the creation of the V Republic and also to create a form of adhesion not only to the spirit of the Republic but also to France.
President Hollande also pointed out the purposes General De Gaulle had in mind for the Order and the fact that in the first awards, in 1965, a woman was admiited to the Order as Grand Cross – the well famed pianist Marguerite Long.
The Exhibition will be opened to the public from 14th July to the 26th January 2014 and a Catalogue has been published..
