Literally!
For weeks and indeed months the news brought us snippets of the annual gathering of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Of some 3500 recipients, going back to the days of the Civil War, the number of living members are now at 77. And 42 of these international heroes would arrive at Minneapolis for their conference this past week.
Several opportunities were held for the public to meet and speak with these heroes, and many even went off to schools to visit students and chat about the responsibilities that go hand in hand with good citizenship.
Seven of the heroes on Sunday made a formal stop at the the other half of the twin cities... that of St Paul, and home of the state capital. Hundreds gathered there as well as throughout Minneapolis to get a chance meet with the recipients.
This would be at the capital entrance near a reflective pool that doesn't reflect and needs some work to get functional again. And here the men participated in the ground breaking for a new memorial for all MOH recipients.
For weeks and indeed months the news brought us snippets of the annual gathering of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Of some 3500 recipients, going back to the days of the Civil War, the number of living members are now at 77. And 42 of these international heroes would arrive at Minneapolis for their conference this past week.
Several opportunities were held for the public to meet and speak with these heroes, and many even went off to schools to visit students and chat about the responsibilities that go hand in hand with good citizenship.
Seven of the heroes on Sunday made a formal stop at the the other half of the twin cities... that of St Paul, and home of the state capital. Hundreds gathered there as well as throughout Minneapolis to get a chance meet with the recipients.
This would be at the capital entrance near a reflective pool that doesn't reflect and needs some work to get functional again. And here the men participated in the ground breaking for a new memorial for all MOH recipients.
This is a depiction looking down on the capital building on the right. The white square at left is the reflective pool and the black image within is the memorial sculpture that will honor the MOH men and one woman.
Retired Naval Captain Thomas Kelley, a Vietnam vet and Medal of Honor recipient, is seen here breaking ground for the new memorial.
The formal colour guard flags are seen at the bottom of this picture.
The crowd of a few hundred on site and no doubt thousands off site witnessed this wonderful flyover in honor of the heroes below and those being remembered from days long since, forgotten by far too many.
The crowd of a few hundred on site and no doubt thousands off site witnessed this wonderful flyover in honor of the heroes below and those being remembered from days long since, forgotten by far too many.
The artist shows the new sculpture on the foreground. Just above and off in the distance beyond the reflective pool you can seem the dome of the state capital building.
There is currently a plaque here at the capital building that carries the names of about 50 Medal of Honor recipients, and includes the names of Charles Lindbergh who flew over parts of Canada during his famous flight, Civil War recipient James Flanagan from Montreal and Alonzo Pickle from a few miles south east of there, and also Colonel George Horace Morgan from St. Catherines Ontario who earned his medal during the Indian Wars. But the plaque has missed the name of James Allen, an Irishmen who came to Canada as a baby and was taken to the US as a youth and orphan very early in life, and would go on to earn his medal also in the Civil War.
You can search all of these names on this site to read their stories.
There is currently a plaque here at the capital building that carries the names of about 50 Medal of Honor recipients, and includes the names of Charles Lindbergh who flew over parts of Canada during his famous flight, Civil War recipient James Flanagan from Montreal and Alonzo Pickle from a few miles south east of there, and also Colonel George Horace Morgan from St. Catherines Ontario who earned his medal during the Indian Wars. But the plaque has missed the name of James Allen, an Irishmen who came to Canada as a baby and was taken to the US as a youth and orphan very early in life, and would go on to earn his medal also in the Civil War.
You can search all of these names on this site to read their stories.
Regular visitors to this site have seen these photo's before. James Allen is at upper left and at right is Alonzo Pickle. Bottom left is Colonel Morgan back in his youthful days as a cadet. and of course Charles Lindbergh is with his plane at the bottom right.
There appear to be a few hundred who have gathered to possibly participate in a meet and great with some of the MOH men attending the convention. Others may well be off doing their duties at the schools in the area. (Note all of the walking aides for these very elderly heroes.)
While the Convention no doubt gave all attendees some great memories to come away with, I thought I would share two with you that probably went quite unmentioned over the 4 day conference.
And thus the maps.
One of the venues for the convention took place at the US Bank Stadium shown by the red marker in the top map. By following the google map layout south and east you end up on Morgan Avenue. And we all known the name Morgan don't we!
We know about Colonel George Horace Morgan, who's image appears above. His medal was earned during the Indian wars where he was wounded in action and ended up carrying a bullet next to his heart for a little while. Actually a lot... some 60 years, till he fell out of bed and instantly dislodged it and died. A camp in Bosnia, Herzegovina as noted in past blogs is named in his honour.
But he has nothing to do with this street's name. Sort of.
But his dad sure did. His name was George Nelson Morgan, and he was a Civil War General who led a Minnesota regiment at Fredericksburg as a Colonel. He would later be promoted to Brig. General. This Avenue is named after him. His story has also been told on this site in the past.
And below this, in the 2nd map, going a few miles further east you end up on Wabasha Street. The very address where James Allen once lived. He spent many a year in the area and is believed to have served of the police force and worked in carpentry occupations, and to this day is buried in the same cemetery a few miles further out and is joined to this day by 4 other MOH recipients.
One must wonder how many knew this as they visited the area to see the recipients that are still with us today.
And speaking of memories there are still 2 stories I wanted to bring you today, but I think enough is enough, so will bring these to you next Sunday, till then,
Cheers,
Bart
And thus the maps.
One of the venues for the convention took place at the US Bank Stadium shown by the red marker in the top map. By following the google map layout south and east you end up on Morgan Avenue. And we all known the name Morgan don't we!
We know about Colonel George Horace Morgan, who's image appears above. His medal was earned during the Indian wars where he was wounded in action and ended up carrying a bullet next to his heart for a little while. Actually a lot... some 60 years, till he fell out of bed and instantly dislodged it and died. A camp in Bosnia, Herzegovina as noted in past blogs is named in his honour.
But he has nothing to do with this street's name. Sort of.
But his dad sure did. His name was George Nelson Morgan, and he was a Civil War General who led a Minnesota regiment at Fredericksburg as a Colonel. He would later be promoted to Brig. General. This Avenue is named after him. His story has also been told on this site in the past.
And below this, in the 2nd map, going a few miles further east you end up on Wabasha Street. The very address where James Allen once lived. He spent many a year in the area and is believed to have served of the police force and worked in carpentry occupations, and to this day is buried in the same cemetery a few miles further out and is joined to this day by 4 other MOH recipients.
One must wonder how many knew this as they visited the area to see the recipients that are still with us today.
And speaking of memories there are still 2 stories I wanted to bring you today, but I think enough is enough, so will bring these to you next Sunday, till then,
Cheers,
Bart
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