Ina Ginsburg, Institute for Education Steward, receives France’s Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres

Many distinguished Washingtonians were on hand to witness Ina Ginsburg receive France’s prestigious Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres decoration from His Excellency, Ambassador Pierre Vimont, at the Embassy’s sublime Kalorama residence.

Ambassador Vimont paid glowing tribute not only to Ina’s exceptional contributions to the cultural and social life of the French Embassy, but also to her participation in the shaping of Washington’s cultural identity. He singled out her efforts that helped form the Washington Opera, and also heighten the American Film Institute’s visibility and prestige from it’s former base in the Kennedy Center. This was Ina’s fourth decoration; her achievements have also been honored by the Kingdom of Morocco, the Republic of Austria, and the European Community.

Included in the gathering of Ina’s friends: Supreme Court Justices Kennedy, Breyer, and Scalia, and their wives; and from the diplomatic corps, Ambassador Bruton of the European Community; Ambassador Fritsche of
Liechtenstein; Ambassador Mekouar of Morocco; Ambassador Sensoy of Turkey (making a very rare appearance on French soil); Ambassador Jawad of Afghanistan; Ambassador Ferguson of New Zealand; and Ambassador Noghes of Monaco.