Remorseful US veteran who nabbed emblematic WWII flag sends it back home to France

Emblematic French WWII flag returned to Paris

PARIS — An American World War II veteran has returned an emblematic French flag to the city of Paris more than six decades after he took it as a souvenir.

The flag was hanging from the Arc de Triomphe on Aug. 25, 1944, the day Paris was liberated from the Nazis.

The city of Paris took possession of the flag in a ceremony Saturday. Officials say it appears to be authentic.

The veteran gave the flag to a French acquaintance who lives in the New York area. The acquaintance brought it to southern France two years ago, and it has remained there as officials checked its authenticity.

The veteran wants to remain anonymous. French officials are thanking him, saying he shouldn’t feel remorse about his youthful act.