REMARKS OF

EMMITT F. YEARY 

 

DEDICATING ÒMEDAL OF HONORÓ SIGN

 

MEMORIAL DAY

MAY 27, 2007

 

VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK

ABINGDON, VIRGINIA

 

ON EVERY VETERANS AND MEMORIAL DAY SINCE THE PARKÕS BEGINNING ON JUNE 2, 2003, CITIZENS HAVE COME TOGETHER AND ASSEMBLED IN THE PARK TO REMEMBER AND GIVE THANKS TO OUR SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE GIVEN AND ARE GIVING OF THEIR LIVES IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM. 

LAST VETERANS DAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2006, WE UNVEILED AND DEDICATED THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF HISTORICAL INFORMATIONAL SIGNS THAT WILL BE PLACED IN THE PARK.  THE FIRST SIGN WAS APPROPRIATELY NAMED THE ÒSPIRIT OF 1776Ó WHICH YOU MAY HAVE SEEN AS YOU CAME INTO THE PARK.

TODAY WE DEDICATE THE SECOND IN THIS SERIES OF HISTORICAL INFORMATIONAL SIGNS.  THIS SIGN, ENTITLED ÒMEDAL OF HONORÓ IS ESPECIALLY APPROPRIATE TODAY SINCE WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE IN OUR PRESENCE COLONEL WESLEY FOX, A MEDAL OF HONOR RECEIPIENT.  SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SIGN READ:

ÒTHE MEDAL OF HONOR IS THE NATIONÕS HIGHEST MEDAL OF VALOR THAT CAN BE BESTOWED TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.  IT IS SOMETIMES REFERRED TO AS THE ÒCONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONORÓ BECAUSE IT IS PRESENTED TO THE RECIPIENT BY THE PRESIDENT IN THE NAME OF CONGRESS. 

THE MEDAL OF HONOR WAS FIRST AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS FOR THE NAVY IN 1861 FOR SAILORS AND MARINES.  THE FOLLOWING YEAR IN 1862 IT WAS ALSO AUTHORIZED FOR ARMY SOLDIERS. 

THE MEDAL OF HONOR HAS BECOME A HISTORIC SYMBOL FOR RECOGNITION OF THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE FOR THEIR EXHIBITING EXTRAORDINARY BRAVERY AND SELF-SACRIFICE WHILE SERVING OUR NATION.

THE RECIPIENTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE MEDAL OF HONOR ARE JUST ORDINARY PEOPLE WHO HAVE PERFORMED EXTRAORDINARY ACTS OF HEROISM, ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY.  HEROES ALL, AS ARE ALL THE MILITARY SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED AND WHO ARE SERVING TODAY TO PRESERVE OUR FREEDOM, WITH THE SAME SPIRIT OF COMMITMENT TO THE CALL OF DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY AND LIBERTY.Ó

THANK YOU FOR COMING TODAY TO REMEMBER ALL OUR HEROES.  MAY GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS IN HARMÕS WAY AND MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA.