A highly-decorated, French World War II pilot was laid to rest Monday morning in Chipley.
Marcel Olivier Albert was one of France's top fighter pilots, shooting down 23 enemy aircraft during more than 250 combat missions, mostly on the Russian front.
Friends and top military officials called Albert a legend, who left his mark on history.

Top military officials and friends came together Monday morning to pay their final respects to 92-year-old Marcel Olivier Albert.
A man who epitomized courage and excellence during World War II.
"Wonderful example of dedication."
Born in 1917, Albert joined the French Air Force at only 21 years old.
When the Vichy government took control of France, Albert defected and began flying for the Free French Air Force.
His most prolific service occurred along the Russian front, where he and his countrymen flew Russian-made aircraft against the German Luftwaffe.
"Well I think he contributed with all his comrades from the Normandie-Niemen squadron very actively to the liberation of Europe."
Major General Gratien Maire says it was a very unique situation.
"Very specific at that time, it was the only unit from the west world to fight against Nazism with the Soviets at that time."
"The name of Marcel Albert is in mine and in memory of the people of my country and Russia will never forget him," says CENTCOM Captain Oleg Tselinko.
At the end of the war, Albert was promoted to the rank of Captain.
He received many honors including 'Hero of the Soviet Union' from Josef Stalin himself.
"He was a special man, he had a great heart, he was a tough guy, besides that, he was really a very great hero of World War II."
Albert met his American wife in Prague and moved to the states in the 1950s, settling in Chipley.
He became an American citizen and began a career overseeing a chain of motels throughout the state.
After his wife died in 2008, Albert moved to Texas to live with John Garric, friend and former French pilot who restores the same type of aircraft Albert flew in the war.
"It's very hard for me to express my feelings, my sentiment."
Albert died last Monday at a nursing home in Harlingen.
He was 92 years old.
"You know this type of person is becoming quite rare today, they disappear, pretty soon it won't be any one of them left."

A few months ago, on the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II, Russia's Consul General in Houston visited Albert to give him a commemorative medal and a bottle of fine vodka, with gratitude from the Russian people.