National Medal of Honor Day 2016

Christians worldwide are observing Good Friday in recognition of Jesus Christ's eternal sacrifice. And, this year, the most somber day of the Christian calendar coincides with the day honoring the extraordinary service and sacrifice of men -- National Medal of Honor Day -- the anniversary marking March 25, 1863, when the first Medals were awarded. The six recipients of those first Medals of Honor were members of "Andrews' Raiders," whose valorous acts were immortalized in print and film as "The Great Locomotive Chase." The chase started in Big Shanty, Georgia, on April 12, 1862, and ended south of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Almost a year later, Private Jacob Parrott was the first Raider to receive his Medal from Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. Since then, there have been 3,497 recipients, including 19 double recipients, the most recent being Navy SEAL Team Six member Edward Byers. There are just 78 living recipients today. ~~~~~ The Medal of Honor has its origins in two Revolutionary War awards -- the Fidelity Medallion and the Badge of Military Merit. The extraordinary valor associated with those earliest awards, and all since, is reflected in six fundamental character traits: Courage, Commitment, Citizenship, Sacrifice, Integrity and Patriotism. ~~~~~ In 1944, as World War II was turning in favor of the Allies, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, echoing America's Medal of Honor tradition, observed : "The longer you can look back, the farther you can look forward." But, it was early in the War when, alone against Nazi Germany, Churchill uttered these immortal words : "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat....You ask, what is our policy? I say it is to wage war by land, sea, and air. War with all our might and with all the strength God has given us, and to wage war against a monstrous tyranny never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word. It is victory. Victory at all costs -- Victory in spite of all terrors -- Victory, however long and hard the road may be, for without victory there is no survival.” After the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor drew America into the War, we can almost physically feel Churchill's relief when he realized America's fighting forces would stand with him : "To have the United States at our side was to me the greatest joy. Now at this very moment I knew the United States was in the war, up to the neck and in to the death. So we had won after all!...Hitler’s fate was sealed. Mussolini’s fate was sealed. As for the Japanese, they would be ground to powder.” Churchill had said early on, while the world was still willing to appease Hitler and British Prime Minister Chamberlain went home to Britain having signed the infamous Munich Pact : "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor and you will have war.” That describes American President Obama, dancing -- after watching baseball with a blood-drenched Cuban dictator -- while the world is mourning Europeans blown apart by ISIS suicide bombers. Thank God America's soldiers understand the necessity of defending liberty, even if their President mocks it with his puny appeasement of terrorists. ~~~~~ Dear readers, among those Americans who have served their country with honor as patriot soldiers -- who have fought to secure and protect the Constitution's "Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity" -- are those who have received the Medal of Honor for their sacrificial service to their fellow Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen. On March 25, the day set aside to recognize them, please join me in honoring their sacrifice and the legacy they have left for the next generation of Americans. And let us also honor the unnumbered patriot heros, American soldiers, who have selflessly and silently given their youth, their bodies, their spirit, and so often their lives, to protect and preserve the United States of America and the world. May God bless each of them and the Nation they serve.