DARIEN – Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) today presented a World War II Victory Medal and World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button to Orlando Francesconi of Darien, honoring his service in the military during WWII. Francesconi was a Corporal, then Second Lieutenant, in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1944, serving in North Africa and Sicily, Italy.

The WWII Victory Medal is awarded to any member of the United States military who served on active duty or on reserve between December 7, 1941 (the date of the attack on Pearl Harbor) and December 31, 1946, the day President Harry Truman declared WWII over. The Honorable Service Lapel Button is awarded to United States military service members who were discharged under honorable conditions during WWII.

“I am grateful for Mr. Francesconi’s service to our country and am pleased that my office was able to assist Mr. Francesconi and his family in receiving these medals,” said Himes. “The incredible stories Mr. Francesconi shared with me this morning were a vivid reminder of the historic role our service men and women play in creating and maintaining the America we are fortunate enough to have inherited.”

Pictures of today’s medal delivery can be downloaded here.