The Commonwealth's Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gas Fitters welcomed Greg Hanley as its latest member. The vice president for Arlex Supply Company, a plumbing wholesaler in Arlington, MA, Hanley joins the board as a public member. He was appointed by Governor Deval Patrick and will serve a three-year term. Paul Kennedy of P. J. Kennedy and Sons, a Local 12 signatory contractor, serves as the chair of the nine-member voluntary board.

One of the issues Hanley looks forward to helping the board tackle is enforcement of the state's code and regulations. For example, he thinks it's important to crack down on unlicensed contractors. He also hopes to play a role in improving the board's Web site. If the board were able to get the necessary funding from the state, Hanley would like the site to be made user-friendlier and provide more info about topics such as the product approval process.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy bestowed George Thompson with the Legion of Honor, the country's highest award, decades after the retired Local 12 plumber helped liberate France during World War II. The presentation took place in Washington, D.C. in November 2007 before Sarkozy addressed a joint session of Congress.

The 82-year-old Thompson was part of a group of seven World War II veterans recognized by France. During his 18 months of active duty, he fought on the beaches of Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and in Czechoslovakia as part of the 359th Regiment of the 90th Infantry Division. Among Thompson's other combat medals, he earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.

In a Boston Globe article, a humbled Thompson deflected the honor by saying he didn't feel worthy. "Someone had to be watching over me," he said. "All I can say is that I'm very lucky."