Comments for MOH Ceremony, Hessian
Barracks, Frederick, Maryland 3/26/2016
Good Morning
What a pleasure it is for me to be
here representing Eugene Mortdorf, the Commander in Chief of the Sons of Union
Veterans of the Civil War, as we honor Mary Walker the only woman, and one of
only eight civilians, to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor.
My thanks and my admiration go to
the Antietam Camp for selecting this incredible woman as their annual
honoree. That Mary walker was in the
Avant-Guard of those who struggled for women’s rights and opportunity is
clearly evident, but her service during the Civil War and her commitment to the
Union Soldiers was perhaps her greatest accomplishment.
Mary Walker’s MOH was recommended
by none less than Generals William T. Sherman and George H. Thomas, two men who
knew the meaning of the word Valor, and President Andrew Johnson signed the
citation shortly after the war.
However, Mary Walker would find that serving her nation and suffering
capture and imprisonment by the Confederacy to receive the award was far easier
than the fight she would face to keep it.
Yes, Mary Walker is due our respect
and our attention on this Medal of Honor Weekend and once again I thank the
Brothers of the Antietam Camp, who I have come to respect and appreciate for
their efforts to hold this ceremony year after year in an effort to inspire and
educate our nation’s citizens. May such
ceremonies continue to set an example of patriotism and civic responsibility
for the Sons of Union Veterans as an organization and all those who share its
goals?
Thank you for your attention and
May God bless all America’s heroes and heroines past and present
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