SUMMARY

The Consul General visited Philadelphia on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 to present Michael Scullin, former Honorary Consul in Philadelphia and Wilmington, with the Medal of Honor of the French Foreign Affairs. A reception was held on this occasion at the City Hall of Philadelphia, in the presence of several members of the consular corps and many representatives of the French and Franco-American community of Philadelphia, including the Ecole française internationale, the Alliance française, the Franco-American Chamber of Commerce, the Société française de Bienfaisance, Philadelphia Accueil, the French Heritage Society and many others. After a presentation of the colors by the First City Troop, one of the oldest active units of the United States Army, and speeches by Mrs. Sheila Hess, representative of the City of Philadelphia, and Mr. David Briel, Deputy Secretary of the Office of International Business Development of the State of Pennsylvania, the Consul General expressed his deep appreciation to Michael Scullin and presented him with the Medal of Honor of the French Foreign Affairs, in recognition of his services to the French community and to the Franco-American relationship for no less than 17 years, to which he has directly contributed by developing, among other things, a partnership between the Lyon and Philadelphia Bar Associations. Established under the Third Republic by decree of the President of the Republic of July 6, 1887, supplemented by a decree of August 30, 2010, the Medal of Honor of the French Foreign Affairs is intended to reward honorable services performed on the national territory or outside France in the service of the external action of France or French citizens residing outside of France by civil servants, military personnel or civilians, French or foreign. It is awarded, by order of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, to particularly deserving persons who have devoted their careers to the defense of France's interests abroad or to reward acts of bravery and devotion.