The Washington times., 1930-05-10
r are HOnOrS
Awarded to
Mrs. Benet
Former Washington Resident
Is Created officer Of Legion
of Honor by France !,

Word has been received
here of an unusual honor
conferred on a former Wash
ingtonian, Mrs. Laurence V,
Benet, by President Dou-
naergue, of France.
Mrs. Benet, who has made
her home for some years
past in Paris, has been made
an officer of the Legion of
Honor, in recognition of her
social welfare work in
France.
Before her marriage, Mrs.
Benet was Miss Margaret
Cox, a member of a family
long residents of old George
town. She has three sisters
at present making their
home here. They are Mrs.
Charles Humes, Mrs. Larkin
Clazebrook and Mrs. Eve
leth E. Whiting.
Rare Honor
Her new honor is one seldom
bestowed upon a oman and
woman of foreign birth. 1t
even more rarely awarded a
is not, however, the first mark
Of appreciation she has re-
ceived from the French gov.
ernment. In @1917 she re-
celved the coveted Gold Medal
Of Honor of the French Min
lstery of Foreign Affaires and
in 1919 Andre Tardieu, pre-.
sented her the Cross of Knight
of the Legion of Honor and it
is under his premiership that
the higher award is now made.
She also holds the Gold Medal
of the Queen Of Montenegro,
Queen Elizabeth of the Belgians
and the Medaille de Recon
naissance Of the Duchess of
Vendome.
While gratified at these
marks cf appreciation Mrs.
Benet's greatest satisfaction
comes from the successful issue
of her efforts to alleviate suf-
fering and produce happiness.
Since her war work she has
given her time and efforts to
such institutions as the Ligue
Francaise contre lie Cancer, of
which she is vice president;
L'Heure Joyeuse, the first
childrens library in France
which is taken as a model for
similar organizations through
out the world; the Union des
Colonies en- faveur des Mutt
les de Ia Guerre; L'Accucil
Social Franco-Americaine Of
which she is a committee mem
ber and to which falls the duty
Of arranging many Franco
American festivities.
American Interests
These activities she carries
cut with those of more direct
American interest. including
the American Women's Club, of
which she is a charter member.
and a member of the board of
governors, and on the board of
the American Legion Auxiliary.
She was four years vice presi-
dent of the executive commit
tee of the FidaC Auxiliary, and
represented the American Le-
gicn Auxiliary at the convention
OF Bucharest in 1923 and at
Belgrade IN 1929.
During the World War, from
August 6, 1914, until the end of
August, 1919 she did volunteer
nursing, general ambulance
service, and work for the refu-
gees in the devastated regions
Of France.
The French Government was
quick to recognize the valuable
help given by Mrs. Benet not
only through her own direct
activity but Through the spirit
she helped to stimulate in her
friends in America as well as
France.
Her husband has done much
OF the same sort of work and
IS considered the jovial father
OF the American colony in
France where he has lived for
10 years and where he has held
most Of the important honorary
positions to which an American
resident in France may aspire,
Both of them set themselves to
a purpose of Service.
Frequent Visitors Here
Mr.. and Mrs. Benet usually
visit Washington at least once
a year but they are not ex-
pected this spring. Mr.. Benet
took his holiday during the
winter, both of them going to
Egypt.
Mr., Benet was not able to
come at the last minute, but
Mrs. Benet was here last
spring for the wedding Of her
niece, Miss Annie Graham
tune, now Mrs. Charles Hays.
N~.1;e IE2215
Il
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