On Thursday night, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Enrique Castillo Barrantes was awarded one of the highest honors issued by the French Republic. The ceremony took place at the diplomatic residence of Jean-Baptiste Chauvin, Ambassador of France to Costa Rica, and Mr. Castillo was accompanied by relatives, friends and the current Minister of Foreign Affairs Manuel Gonzalez Saenz.

Mr. Castillo received the medal of Commander in the Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur, a French order originally established by Napoleon Bonaparte in the early 19th century. This prestigious order is rooted in chivalry, but it denotes actual merit rather than nobility. French and foreign individuals, both civilian and military, may be awarded a place in the Legion of Honor as long as they deserve it.

At the awards ceremony, Ambassador Chauvin called attention to the unique relationship with France that Mr. Castillo established during his lifetime. As a graduate student, Mr. Castillo studied in Bordeaux and developed an affinity for the French language and culture. He would later be appointed Ambassador of Costa Rica in France.

Mr. Castillo was entered into the Legion of Honor by a decree executed by President Francois Hollande, who is also Grand Master of the Order, back in May. At the ceremony, Mr. Castillo accepted the award in a humble manner and, as befits his Francophile trait, explained the ancestry, legacy, lineage, and criteria of the medal, which he does not think he meets. Still, he spoke highly of the gesture, and explained:

“France does not owe me in award; if anything, I feel indebted to France. Still, I accept this with lots of gratitude since it is a testament to the great generosity of France. I value this immensely.”

Some notable non-French recipients of the Legion of Honor include:

• Emperor Akihito of Japan
• Richard Attenborough
• Josephine Baker (she was born in the United States)
• David Cronenberg

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs