05/14/2008
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French Ambassador to the United States Pierre Vimont pinned the Legion of Honor on Beliveau's lapel as his wife, Cynthia, and their four sons watched in the Hall of Flags.
About 100 people came to the ceremony, which featured French songs by schoolchildren from Freeport and a speech by Vimont.
Beliveau, a senior partner in the Augusta law firm Preti Flaherty Beliveau & Pachios, received the honor for his 16-year tenure as honorary consul of France and his work to promote and preserve French culture.
"It will also pay tribute to the achievements of a committed citizen that values and cherishes his roots and his cultural heritage, and has invested time, energy and passion in the celebration of this rich legacy," Vimont said.
The Legion of Honor, founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, recognizes service to the French Republic. French President Nicholas Sarkozy signed a decree bestowing the honor on Beliveau.
"It's an honor that I never expected to receive, for sure," Beliveau said. "It's a reflection of all the French Canadians. I'm the vehicle that's been recognized for the work done by hundreds of thousands of others to promote the French language and culture in Maine."
Gov. John Baldacci, with French and American flags on either side of the podium, said he found a citation in the Congressional Record as far back as 1967 in which U.S. Sen. Edmund Muskie mentioned Beliveau as someone with a promising career.
"Severin Beliveau is a proud Franco-American who holds dear his French heritage," Baldacci said. "He has served as a liaison for the French people and interests for many years, and has helped to establish stronger ties between Maine and France, economically and culturally."
Beliveau was instrumental in coordinating a trade mission to France in 2005 that has produced $5 million in contracts between companies based in both countries.
Beliveau, who joked that he might try to pin the legion star on his pajamas, is the son of Albert Beliveau, the first Franco-American appointed to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. His ancestors came from France to Nova Scotia in 1636 and were later displaced by Le Grand Derangement, the French term for the "great expulsion" of Acadians from Nova Scotia by the British in 1755.
They fled to Quebec and came to Maine in the late 1800s.
Beliveau said he "grew up with a love of all things French."
His wife, Cynthia, said her husband worked for years on issues close to his heart and was thrilled to receive the award.
"This has been part of his passion, his love, his life, forever," she said.
Since 1992, Beliveau has served as honorary French consul for Maine, a position that's helped strengthen ties between the French consulate in Boston and the state, Vimont said.
"With kindness, good judgment and sagacity, you have helped scores of French diplomats to navigate along the coasts of Maine and to introduce them to the diversity, the beauty and the uniqueness of your splendid home state," he said.
Beliveau is a prominent lobbyist at the Statehouse, often representing a full roster of clients. He's a former legislator and former chairman of the Democratic State Committee.
All four of the Beliveaus' grown sons came to Augusta for the occasion, with Emmett Beliveau taking a day off from his duties campaigning for presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama.
"I'm immensely proud of him and I was happy to take a break from the campaign trail to be with my dad," he said.
Susan Cover -- 623-1056
scover@centralmaine.com
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