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As many as 400 Canadian D-Day veterans missed out on being awarded France’s Legion of Honour because their names were not forwarded to the French government.

As part of celebrations for the 70th anniversary of D-Day last year, the French government announced it would award the Legion of Honour to veterans who took part in that invasion.

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Some 20,000 awards were given to veterans worldwide, including to 600 Canadians.

But there are an estimated 1,000 Canadian D-Day veterans still alive, and now the French Embassy in Ottawa is receiving requests for the medal.

“We don’t know why but suddenly in the beginning of 2015, after the selection was made, other veterans became aware and asked for the Legion of Honour,” said embassy spokesman Stéphane Schorderet. “But unfortunately, the campaign is closed.”

[np_storybar title=”Canadian Participation in D-Day” link=””]Destroyers and supporting craft from the Royal Canadian Navy took part in the invasion and helped shell German targets. Royal Canadian Air Force planes were among the 4,000 Allied bombers (plus some 3,700 fighters and fighter bombers) that attacked the German beach defences and inland targets.