The thing is we don't have an AF medal with which we can honour crews. We're actually not into the crew honouring business unless they are dead. The Concorde guys have a nice plaque on a wall somewhere in the building and near the train station at CDG.........for all they care.
We're not into pageantry anyway exept on Bastille day that is. They give the " légion d'honneur " like parking tickets nowadays, even to football players !! How pathetic is that ?? I'd rather have nothing and a clear conscience of a job well done.