UNLV concert pays tribute to French Legion of Honor recipients

In a moment of solidarity, there was a moment of silence.

That's what Thomas Leslie, UNLV's director of wind band studies, asked for as he took the stage for The President's Concert, an event that both celebrated the university's wind orchestra and honored Las Vegas recipients of the French Legion of Honor, the highest honor French citizens and foreign nationals can receive from the French government.

For about 30 seconds, a nearly full audience at the university concert hall fell quiet "in honor of those we lost on (last) Friday in Paris," Leslie said. The student orchestra broke the silence with a rendition of the French national anthem, "La Marseillaise."

Some audience members held their hands over their hearts. Some bowed their heads. Everyone stood.

The song never ended. Instead, with an elongated final note, it turned into "The Star-Spangled Banner." A few listeners whispered the lyrics while others, speckled throughout the crowd, started to cry.

Before the concert, as woodwinds warmed up around him, the Honorary Consul of France in Las Vegas, Eric Auger, said Thursday night's event had been planned months ago but was "even more symbolic now."

Auger would later present the French Legion of Honor to the city's newest recipient, Cpl. Joseph A. Sharpe, 91.

"We're 5,000 miles away, but it really hit close to us," Auger said of the attacks. "Even though (Sharpe and I) lived in different times, the values that we're defending are exactly the same."

Sharpe was elated to receive the award. But he was humble too. Growing up, he worked in an Ohio factory where he made dog tags before, in 1943, he started wearing them after being drafted.

"Being from that generation, we went to do the job," Sharpe said of his time in the Army and the action he saw in France. "We just took orders."

But as he reflected on his service, he let the honor soak in.

"Today I feel as though it puts a closure on my life," he said, his eyes growing wet as he smiled. "I feel like this is the last hurrah for me."

Las Vegas and France will be brought together once again next July, when UNLV's wind orchestra performs during the 25th Festival d' Azur in St. Tropez. UNLV president Len Jessup announced the invitation at the beginning of Thursday's event.

It will be the university group's second time performing in France since 2005, when UNLV became the first group neither professional, military or civic asked to perform at the festival.

"I think I'd like to come with you," Jessup said.

Contact Rachel Crosby at rcrosby@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290. Find her on Twitter: @rachelacrosby.