African-American Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial | |
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Location | intersection of 18th Street and Baynard Boulevard on 18th Street Brandywine/Todd Memorial Park Wilmington, Delaware |
Coordinates | 39°45′17.9″N75°32′48.5″W / 39.754972°N 75.546806°W |
Built | 1998 |
Architect | Charles Parks |
The African-American Medal of Honor Recipients Memorial is a monument dedicated to African-American recipients of the Medal of Honor since 1861.
The sculpture on top of the monument was created by Charles Parks. It depicts Sgt. William Harvey Carney, who was the first African-American to receive the distinction, for his gallantry in saving the regimental colors (American Flag) during the Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863, [1] and Private Milton L. Olive, who was the first black recipient of the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War, when he sacrificed himself, age 18, by smothering a live grenade. [2] As of 2020, there have been more than 3,500 military service members that have earned themselves the Medal of Honor. Of those 3,500 recipients, only 92 have been African-American men. The Medal of Honor has been an award that is able to be dated back to the civil war. [3] Only major acts of heroism are recognized by the Medal of Honor award.
The monument, erected and dedicated in 1998 by the African American Medal of Honor Association, Inc., is located on the intersection of 18th Street and Baynard Boulevard on 18th Street in Brandywine/Todd Memorial Park in Wilmington, Delaware. [4]
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a historic funerary monument dedicated to deceased U.S. service members whose remains have not been identified. It is located in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, United States. The World War I "Unknown" is a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the Victoria Cross, and several other foreign nations' highest service awards. The U.S. Unknowns who were interred are also recipients of the Medal of Honor, presented by U.S. presidents who presided over their funerals. The monument has no officially designated name.
William Harvey Carney was an American soldier during the American Civil War. Born enslaved, he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1900 for his gallantry in saving the regimental colors during the Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863. The action for which he received the Medal of Honor preceded that of any other African American Medal of Honor recipient; however, his medal was actually one of the last to be awarded for Civil War service. Some African Americans received the Medal of Honor as early as April 1865.
Peter Charles Lemon is a former United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor. He received the award for his actions on April 1, 1970, while serving in Tây Ninh Province during the Vietnam War. He dedicates his award to the three comrades he lost in the battle for which he received the award: Casey Waller, Nathan Mann, Brent Street. Lemon is the only Canadian-born United States citizen to be presented the medal for fighting in the Vietnam War. He is the eighth-youngest living Medal of Honor recipient.
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Riverside National Cemetery (RNC) is a cemetery located in Riverside, California, dedicated to the interment of United States military personnel. The cemetery covers 1,250 acres (510 ha), making it the largest cemetery managed by the National Cemetery Administration. It has been the most active cemetery in the system since 2000, based on the number of interments.
Private First Class James Anderson Jr. was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for heroism while serving in Vietnam in February 1967. When his Medal of Honor was awarded on August 21, 1968, he became the first African American U.S. Marine recipient of the Medal of Honor while serving in Vietnam.
Milton Lee Olive III was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of America's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for his actions in the Vietnam War. At the age of 18, Olive sacrificed his life to save others by falling on a grenade. He was the first African-American recipient of the Medal of Honor from the Vietnam War.
Staff Sergeant Ysmael Reyes Villegas, was a United States Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest military decoration, for heroism during World War II at the Battle of Luzon.
Sergeant First Class Elmelindo Rodrigues Smith was a United States Army soldier, of Hispanic-Asian descent, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War. Despite being severely wounded, Smith inspired his men to beat back an enemy assault.
Nicky Daniel Bacon was a United States Army first sergeant from the Americal Division who served during the Vietnam War. For his actions in combat in Tam Ky, Vietnam, Bacon was awarded America's highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor.
John Andrew Barnes III was a soldier of the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Dak To.
Bruce Alan Grandstaff was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.
Audie Murphy was one of the most decorated United States Army combat soldiers of World War II, serving from 1942 to 1945. He received every American combat award for valor available at the time of his service, including the Medal of Honor. He also received recognitions from France and Belgium. With his 1945 military discharge at the end of the war, Murphy became an advocate of treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans. The Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital in San Antonio and the Sergeant Audie Murphy Clubs (SAMC) on military bases honor his contributions. He joined the Texas National Guard in 1950, transferring to reserve status in 1956 and remaining in the Guard until 1969. He also had a civilian career as a film actor and songwriter. Recognitions he received both during his lifetime and posthumously are listed below.
Edgar A. Bras was a United States soldier who fought with the 8th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War. He received his nation's highest award for valor, the U.S. Medal of Honor, for the bravery he displayed during the Battle of Spanish Fort in Alabama on April 8, 1865. That award was conferred on June 8, 1865.
Staff Sergeant Salvador J. Lara was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and recipient of the Medal of Honor. He was of Mexican-American descent.
The Minnesota State Capitol Mall includes eighteen acres of green space. Over the years, monuments, and memorials, have been added to the mall. The mall has been called Minnesota's Front lawn and is a place where the public has gathered for celebrations, to party, to demonstrate and protest, and to grieve.