What is "legion of honor"

Legion \Le"gion\ (l[=e]"j[u^]n), n. [OE. legioun, OF. legion, F. l['e]gion, fr. L. legio, fr. legere to gather, collect. See Legend.]

1. (Rom. Antiq.) A body of foot soldiers and cavalry consisting of different numbers at different periods, -- from about four thousand to about six thousand men, -- the cavalry being about one tenth.

2. A military force; an army; military bands.

3. A great number; a multitude.

   Where one sin has entered, legions will force their way through the same breach.
   --Rogers.

4. (Taxonomy) A group of orders inferior to a class.

   Legion of honor, an order instituted by the French government in 1802, when Bonaparte was First Consul, as a reward for merit, both civil and military.

The Legion of Honour is the highest decoration awarded by France.

Legion of Honor may also refer to:

• Philippine Legion of Honor, one of the highest decorations awarded by the Philippines
• Palais de la Légion d'Honneur, a building in Paris constructed as a tribute to the members of the Legion of Honour
• American Legion of Honor, a U.S. fraternal benefit society active from 1878 to 1904
• California Palace of the Legion of Honor, a museum in San Francisco, whose building is based upon the Palais de la Légion d’Honneur
• Sigma Nu fraternity, a men's college social fraternity who style themselves as such, and whose official initiate badge is modeled after the above French award
• Legion of Honor may refer to a vanity award sold by the American Biographical Institute

The Legion of Honor (formerly known as The California Palace of the Legion of Honor) is a part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (FAMSF). The name is used both for the museum collection and for the building in which it is housed. On March 22, 2016, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco announced the appointment of Max Hollein as its director, taking over from Colin Bailey who left for the Morgan Library & Museum after a two-year term. Hollein's tenure began on June 1, 2016.