Paul McCartney awarded French Legion of Honor

French President Francois Hollande, left, decorates former Beatle Paul McCartney with the Legion of Honor, France's highest public distinction, during a ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012. / AP Photo/ Philippe Wojazer

(AP) PARIS - France's Elysee Palace says former Beatle Paul McCartney has been decorated with the legion of honor for services to music.

On Saturday the presidential office said that seventy-year-old McCartney — who sang and co-wrote hits like "Hey Jude" and "Yesterday" — was decorated at the rank of officer by French President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace, with members of McCartney's family attending.

McCartney joins the ranks of other singers to have received the honor. Barbra Streisand and Liza Minnelli were similarly honored by former President Nicolas Sarkozy.

McCartney — often referred to as "Sir Paul" or "Macca" in his native Britain — has already received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II, who watched him perform at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

[mnollette]

We searched far and wide in France even looked at potential in our rising Islam population and could find no one in the whole Country deserving of this award so.....

[waynenipper]

Sir Paul is a gentleman's gentleman ... a true good man.

[Montana5]

If McCartney had faked having a weapon in his coat, he could have received the French's unconditional surrender.

[signseeker1717]

If Franklin hadn't worked dilligently to secure French loans to finance the War of Independence, and enlist the resources of the French military, it's very possible we wouldn't have won that independence. Frenchmen DIED on our shores to help us win that independence.

The services of Lafayette alone were invaluable, as attested by Washington himself, who also loved him like a son. And we wouldn't have the Statue of Liberty, which was a gift from France.

You may want to put things in perspective before you deride them.

[Montana5]

signseeker- The French have been repaid many times over with the lives of many, many Americans in both WWII and WWII. This is a country that would be speaking German today were it not for blood shed by the USA. Deride them? Not really. But I will take every possible to occasion to needle them. They deserve it.

[AOCGUY]

The award itself seems a bit silly but there is no doubt in my mind that there are few if any who have made as big an impact on music than Paul McCartney.

[expatriate2]

Big deal. For years France gave out the Legion of Honor like Mardi Gras necklaces.

[hypnotoad72]

Possibly.

I'm not going say that McCartney doesn't deserve the award, or lacks talent, but I'm surprised how many people haven't scoffed, citing the then-popular bit of "freedom fries" because France did not side with the US over Iraq at one point or whatever... or maybe I shouldn't be surprised, noting how many people act as if they're born yesterday and blame the whole of America's problems solely on Obama...

[hemusbull]

Right... but yor Mardi Gras doesn't have the image of Legion of Honor. It is more valuable than American Purple Heart award for the Europeans!

[andie52]

he deserves any award he receives-nicely done Sir Paul

[thprop]

Paul looks good.....

[erasmus111]

He does look good in this picture. At the Olympics, I didn't think he did.