Veterans Day is for recognizing all who served in any capacity in the military. Memorial Day is not. Memorial is specifically designed to commemorate those who gave their lives in military service to this country. "Commemorate" ... an interesting word. I'm sure you can see the connection to "memory," right? We use the word to celebrate or show respect, but the root meaning is to "call to remembrance." And that's really what Memorial Day is intended to do ... remind us, specifically of those who gave all.
Mary Walker, to date, is the only female Medal of Honor recipient. Dr. Walker served in the Union army as a field surgeon, providing medical aid to Union soldiers, civilians ... and Confederate soldiers alike. She would cross enemy lines to help Confederate surgeons, and she would do it alone since none of the brave men with her had the courage to do it. Eventually she was arrested as a spy by Confederate forces and spent 4 months in prison before being released. For her courage, she was awarded the Medal of Honor.
One of the recipients from World War I was Corporal Jake Allex. Engaged in a fierce battle in France, all of Allex's platoon officers became casualties after coming into range of a German machine gun nest. Lacking direction from leadership, Allex took rifle in hand and advanced alone toward the nest, firing until he ran out of ammunition. Then he charged and attacked the 20 enemy soldiers with his bayonet, killing 5, and subduing the rest with his rifle butt until they were captured.
In World War II at the Battle of the Bulge, Army Private James Hendrix (no relation to the guitar player) was part of a leading element attempting to break through German lines at Bastogne. At one point, in a hail of artillery and small arms fire, Hendrix dismounted from his half-track and walked alone toward two German 88 mm guns. Firing his rifle, he forced the gun crews to take cover and then surrender. Later that day, he left his vehicle again to assist two wounded soldiers caught in a crossfire. His counter-fire gave them sufficient time to get to safety. Later that same day, Hendrix voluntarily braved mines, guns, and snipers to reach a fellow soldier in a burning vehicle. Hendrix dragged him to safety and put out his flaming clothing before the vehicle exploded.
To date there are 3,520 Medal of Honor winners. Nineteen of them won two. They came from all services and all walks of life. Many received them posthumously. Of the 3,520 recipients, 61 are still alive. As the saying goes, all gave some, and some gave all. Today we honor those who gave their lives for something higher than themselves. We owe them a debt of gratitude.
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