FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Gettysburg Celebrates Medal of Honor Heroes

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[Kathy in Alaska]

 

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Gettysburg Celebrates Medal of Honor Heroes
Info from here.

           

Deep within the archives of the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center, nestled between historical documents and archeological battlefield treasures, four Medals of Honor are tucked away.

Recently, museum specialist Paul Shevchuk -- one of three people at the museum who handle the artifacts in the collection -- brought the medals out to breathe.

His hands swathed in white cotton gloves, Shevchuk carefully pulled a small leather box from its case and placed it on a metal examining table. Inside was one of the first Medals of Honor in its original design.

The bronze was slightly tarnished and the ribbon was frayed. Almost 150 years ago, in October 1864, President Abraham Lincoln presented it to Color Sgt. Daniel P. Reigle.

The medal was awarded to Reigle for his actions at the Battle of Cedar Creek, but Gettysburg is an appropriate home for it because Reigle was born in Adams County and lived in Littlestown after the war. He is buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery in Littlestown.

The other medals in the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center collection were awarded for action in the Battle of Gettysburg. In less than two weeks, as many as 79 other medals may make their way to Gettysburg when the annual Medal of Honor Convention is held at the Wyndham Gettysburg Hotel from Sept. 18-21.

All 79 living recipients of the medal are invited, and about 50 are expected to attend, said Bob Monahan, president and CEO of the convention.

Several events will be open to the public, though they will require tickets, Monahan said.

However, the National Park Service's collection of Medals of Honor will remain locked away in the archives during the convention.

In addition to Reigle's medal -- donated to the museum as part of the Rosensteel collection -- medals awarded to two other Civil War veterans are in the collection.

Sgt. Wallace W. Johnson, Company G, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves, was awarded the medal for actions July 2, 1863. He and five others charged on a number of enemy sharpshooters concealed in a log house, captured them and brought them back to the Union lines. Johnson's medal was issued in 1900.

Lt. James J. Purman, Company A, 140th Pennsylvania Infantry, was awarded the medal for actions July 2, 1863, when he voluntarily assisted a wounded comrade. According to the citation, Purman was wounded while helping the soldier, and his left leg had to be amputated. Purman's medal was issued in 1896.

In 1904, the Medal of Honor was redesigned, and those who had received the medal previously were presented with the newer version. Both versions of Johnson's medal are in the collection at the Gettysburg museum.

Shevchuk said Purman's and Johnson's medals were donated in recent years, and they have not been on display in the museum. Reigle's medal was on display for several years until 2012.

There are no plans to put them on display for the Medal of Honor Conference.

"They're on vacation," Shevchuk said, explaining that artifacts need time to rest, much like people do. Exposing objects to light and other elements when they're on display in a museum setting can hurt the medals. It's important to rotate objects and collections on display at the museum, he said.

Plus, Katie Lawhon, management assistant for Gettysburg National Military Park, pointed out that those attending the Medal of Honor conference will be bringing their own medals with them.

Medal of Honor events open to the public

Though the Medal of Honor Convention is privately organized, several events will be open to the public, according to President and CEO of the Convention Bob Monahan.

A public meet and greet event will take place at the Wyndham on Sept. 19, and the public can meet the Medal of Honor recipients one-on-one, take photos and get autographs.

On Sept. 20, there will be a town hall forum and community outreach event at Gettysburg College, emceed by Chris Wallace, where recipients will be interviewed. Audience members can take part in the conversation.

Later that evening, a public concert will be held on the Gettysburg battlefield at the Pennsylvania Monument overlooking Pickett's Charge. The U.S. Armed Forces Color Guard, the West Point Cadet Glee Club and "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, which performed during President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, are scheduled to play.

"After the concert, we are going to have the largest fireworks display probably ever seen in Adams County," Monahan said.

The final public event is the Patriot Award Dinner at the Wyndham Sept. 21. Recipients, elected officials, senior military officers, business executives and community leaders will be there. Awards including the Bob Hope Award for Entertainment and the Patriot Award will be given out at the dinner.

The meet and greet, town hall forum and concert are free, but require a ticket. Tickets for the Patriot dinner start at $500.

For more information about the convention or to reserve tickets for an event, visit www.cmoh2013.org.

Recipients and their guests are scheduled to arrive Sept. 18 and will be staying at the Wyndham Gettysburg Hotel.

Monahan said organizers have been working on the event for three years.

"We are connecting them, as recipients, with their history," he said.

By BRANDIE KESSLER AND LILLIAN REED

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission! 

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, gorush, for the great old pictures.

[ConorMacNessa]

I didn't get out into the garden today - rested and played on the computer for a couple of hours. I was trying to watch the football game online (NBC) - it crashed my computer. It's just as well - I hate both the Cowboys and Giants.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sgt. Daniel P. Reigle, left, shown wearing the Medal of Honor he received for his gallantry
in the 1864 Battle of Cedar Creek. The Littlestown man served in the 87th Pennsylvania
during the Civil War. (THE (HANOVER) EVENING SUN -- MARC CHARISSE)

[gorush]

You’re welcome. I’ve got a million of them...cha cha cha cha. (A Jimmy Durante reference that shows my age)

[The Mayor]

Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list

All Through This Hour
September 9, 2013

The majestic chime of London’s Great Clock of Westminster, commonly known as Big Ben, is familiar to many. In fact, some of us may have clocks in our homes that sound the same hourly chime. It is traditionally thought that the melody was taken from Handel’s Messiah. And the lyrics inscribed in the Big Ben clock room have a time significance:

All through this hour,

Lord, be my guide;

And by Thy power,

No foot shall slide.

These lyrics are a good reminder of our constant need for God’s guidance. King David recognized that he needed guidance all through the day as he faced the challenges of life. In Psalm 25 he says: “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day” (v.5). Wanting to be a teachable follower of God, David looked to his Redeemer for direction. His heart’s desire was to wait on God with dependent faith throughout the entire day.

May this be our desire as well. Our requests for God’s help often begin the day, but then competing distractions can pull our attention away from Him. Lord, remind us to pray: “All through this hour, Lord, be my guide.”

There’s never a day nor a season
That prayer may not bless every hour,
And never a prayer need be helpless
When linked with God’s infinite power. —Morton

Let Christ be first in your thoughts in the morning, and last in your thoughts at night.

Read: Psalm 25:1-11

Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day. —Psalm 25:5

Bible in a Year:
Proverbs 6-7; 2 Corinthians 2

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...how did your solo gig with the Biker Ministry go this morning?

[gorush]

Here are two gentlemen named Jefferson Davis, one from the North and one from the South:

Here's the first photo taken from outer space:

For extra credit, who are these people?

[moose07]

You left the names in the properties data....:)

[gorush]

Cheater! :{)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Rain started about 90 minutes ago...heavy at times. I love listening to it on the skylight over my computer desk.

I forgot about the start of football. I’ve really lost interest in watching the many thugs that now call themselves pro football players. And the antics on field make me sick...coming from grown men. They get paid huge sums of money and we are supposed to be thrilled when they make a play. THAT’S WHAT THEY GET PAID TO DO!! Ok, rant over.

Sorry about your computer crashing.

When does your daughter come?

[moose07]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Mac, for the Missing Man Setting as we remember those who have given their all that we may gather safe and secure.

[ConorMacNessa]

I agree about antics on the field - you'd think, from the way they act, that they had never scored a touchdown before. I've felt for some years that the game is played more intensely at the collegiate level. The pros look to me like they're just going through the motions much of the time.

I'm wondering if the computer problem may be a Firefox issue. I'll give IE or Safari a try again and see what happens with them.

Mary Fran comes home Monday the 30th. I'll pick her up at the airport.

America demands Justice for the Fallen of Benghazi!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mooch.....it is raining, quite heavy at times.

Weather report is predicting some rain all week. Leaves have not started to change color, but is definitely getting cooler.

How is your summer going? Can you see fall yet?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh boy....rearranging! Maddi will love it.

Time for Halloween.....it is coming, isn’t it?

[gorush]

Four U.S. Presidents have been assassinated. One man was at the death bedside of three of those Presidents. Can you name him?

[luvie]

Thanks, Galz, for telling us about these heroes of the Civil War. I am a southerner through and through (well, really Southwesterner—TEXAN), but I do have great respect for the heroes on both sides of the conflict. :)

God rest their souls!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Gonna be a long 3 weeks. d:o)

I’ve had Firefox shut down twice on me this weekend. And the update window pops up all the time. I hate updating so often cuz then something else doesn’t work.

Good luck!

[Kathy in Alaska]

G'day, Janey...((HUGS))

Time for a new one? Or you gonna keep working on the old one?

[Kathy in Alaska]

The rarest of the Medals of Honor in the Gettysburg collection
is this original Civil War version presented to Color Sgt. Daniel P. Reigle
by President Lincoln. (THE (HANOVER) EVENING SUN -- MARC CHARISSE)