thedrifter
02-26-07, 05:23 PM
House to vote on Medal of Honor Day
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 26, 2007 17:33:06 EST
The House of Representatives has scheduled a vote Tuesday on a resolution declaring March 25 as National Medal of Honor Day.
No opposition is expected to the resolution, sponsored by Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., the House Armed Services Committee chairman, particularly because the vote will come just one day after a Vietnam veteran, retired Army Lt. Col. Bruce Crandall, received the military’s highest medal for valor, for action 42 years ago when he was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam.
Under the resolution, similar to a resolution approved by the Senate two weeks ago, March 25 would be designated by presidential proclamation as National Medal of Honor Day, which would be set aside to recognize the heroism and sacrifice of the 3,444 people — including Crandall — who have received the award. It would not be a federal holiday, but supporters hold that having a designated date would be reason enough for schools to provide lessons in the heroism of service members.
The House and Senate versions of the resolution have one important difference that would have to be reconciled, however — the Senate version would designate only the single date — March 25, 2007 — as National Medal of Honor Day, while the House version would designate March 25 in perpetuity.
The Medal of Honor was established in 1862, initially as an award for the civil war veterans. It expanded over the years, and was not always given for valor or heroism.
The modern-day Congressional Medal of Honor, awarded by the president on behalf of Congress, has been controversial because of some complaints about unclear criteria, including differences between the services and a perception that a service member must die in a heroic act to receive the honor.
Statistics compiled by the House Armed Services Committee show the percentage of posthumous awards of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest honor for valor, has changed over time. In World War I, 27 percent were posthumous. That climbed to 57 percent for World War II and 71 percent for the Korean War and dropped to 38 percent for the Vietnam War.
Crandall is an example of someone who survived.
The two Medals of Honor for action in Somalia and the three for valor in Iraq — one to a soldier and two for Marines — were all posthumous awards.
Including Crandall, 112 Medal of Honor recipients are still living.
Ellie
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Feb 26, 2007 17:33:06 EST
The House of Representatives has scheduled a vote Tuesday on a resolution declaring March 25 as National Medal of Honor Day.
No opposition is expected to the resolution, sponsored by Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo., the House Armed Services Committee chairman, particularly because the vote will come just one day after a Vietnam veteran, retired Army Lt. Col. Bruce Crandall, received the military’s highest medal for valor, for action 42 years ago when he was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam.
Under the resolution, similar to a resolution approved by the Senate two weeks ago, March 25 would be designated by presidential proclamation as National Medal of Honor Day, which would be set aside to recognize the heroism and sacrifice of the 3,444 people — including Crandall — who have received the award. It would not be a federal holiday, but supporters hold that having a designated date would be reason enough for schools to provide lessons in the heroism of service members.
The House and Senate versions of the resolution have one important difference that would have to be reconciled, however — the Senate version would designate only the single date — March 25, 2007 — as National Medal of Honor Day, while the House version would designate March 25 in perpetuity.
The Medal of Honor was established in 1862, initially as an award for the civil war veterans. It expanded over the years, and was not always given for valor or heroism.
The modern-day Congressional Medal of Honor, awarded by the president on behalf of Congress, has been controversial because of some complaints about unclear criteria, including differences between the services and a perception that a service member must die in a heroic act to receive the honor.
Statistics compiled by the House Armed Services Committee show the percentage of posthumous awards of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest honor for valor, has changed over time. In World War I, 27 percent were posthumous. That climbed to 57 percent for World War II and 71 percent for the Korean War and dropped to 38 percent for the Vietnam War.
Crandall is an example of someone who survived.
The two Medals of Honor for action in Somalia and the three for valor in Iraq — one to a soldier and two for Marines — were all posthumous awards.
Including Crandall, 112 Medal of Honor recipients are still living.
Ellie