Mr Obama met with the three men in the Oval Office on Thursday, and said they represented “the very best of America”.
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U.S. President Barack Obama commended three Americans credited with foiling an attack on a Paris-bound train in August, praising their courage and quick thinking.
After his comments, the President posed for pictures with the three, but declined to answer questions from pool reporters or photographers. Alek Skarlatos. Their friend, Anthony Sadler, a college student from Sacramento, was also honored as a hero.
Skarlatos and Stone quickly moved to subdue the man, ultimately tackling him to the ground as he tried to shoot at them.
In addition to receiving the military medal for combat wounds, Stone will be promoted two ranks, bypassing the level of Senior Airman to reach Staff Sergeant, an upgrade worth an extra $380 a month in pay.
French President Francois Hollande immediately awarded them and the Briton, Chris Norman, with the Legion d’honneur, France’s highest honor.
But the men said that the highlight so far has been how well they were received by the hometown crowd cheering them on during last week’s parade. “We just want to say thank you to them for not only saving so many lives yet moreover for making America look so good.”Afterwards, the three men mirrored on their experience meeting the president, with Stone describing it as “insane.”There was a moment in time where I just froze right when I walked in and saw [President Obama]”, Stone stated”.
It’s been a head-snapping month for the three twenty-somethings since their quick actions on the train transformed them into instant celebrities.
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Later Thursday, the friends were heading to the Pentagon, where Stone was being awarded the prestigious Airman’s Medal and a Purple Heart, and Army Specialist Skarlatos was in line for the Army’s Soldiers Medal.
