by Rep. Zach Wamp
posted November 10, 2009
A veteran’s medals tell a story of service to our country for the cause of freedom. Many men and women wear the medals received during their military career to express patriotism on Veterans Day, which is a reminder of the sacrifices made for our democracy. One of the highest privileges I have as a Congressman is honoring veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States. It has been an amazing experience to meet veterans throughout Tennessee’s Third Congressional District and help them receive the medals and recognition they earned.
One of the most memorable occasions was helping a veteran from Lake City, who had terminal cancer and was struggling to receive the medals he had earned before he died. My office worked quickly to assist him, and days before his death, I had the privilege and honor to present him with nine medals, including a Prisoner of War medal.
Some veterans engaged in more than one conflict, and merited recognition each time. Another Lake City veteran served in the U.S. Army for a total of 22 years, and fought both in World War II and the Korean War. Over his length of service he earned 18 medals, which was the largest number that I have had the pleasure to present.
Medals are also significant to the family members of the veterans. The medals of a deceased, Oak Ridge Vietnam veteran were destroyed in a house fire. After working with the military, I was proud to present his mother with his replacement medals, including a Silver Star and a Purple Heart. The Silver Star is the third-highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the armed forces, and the Purple Heart is given to U.S. military members who are wounded or killed in action.
Each story that accompanies a veterans’ medal is as exceptional as the person who wears it proudly. It is a symbol of sacrifice, valor and accomplishment during service to our country. Nearly 40 percent of the nation’s 23 million veterans are aged 65 or older, and the memories of these men and women are fading. In addition, our nation loses at least 1,000 veterans each day, along with them their stories of courage, comradeship and sacrifice.
Motivated by a desire to honor our nation’s war veterans for their service and to collect their stories and experiences while they are still among us, the U.S. Congress created the Veterans History Project in 2000. Through this effort, the Library of Congress has collected and archived the oral histories, pictures and diaries of more than 66,000 American veterans. More than 600 stories of our own Tennessee Valley veterans have been permanently archived as part of the project. WRCB-TV in Chattanooga aired more than 100 of these local veterans’ memories on their station, which inspired many more to share their personal accounts of war and conflict.
Freedom is passed down from one generation to the next by the American patriots who were willing to stand between a threat and our civilian population. It is essential that we preserve their first-hand recollections and share with our children the stories of these true heroes to teach them that we enjoy freedom and liberty every day because of the sacrifices of past generations.
We continue to set aside November 11 each year to reflect on the valor and sacrifice of all the veterans who served with honor, dedication and distinction. This Veterans Day, we can share our gratitude to those in our community who answered the call to serve our country, and listen to their accounts of defending our way of life. We owe our veterans the most heartfelt gratitude for protecting the liberty America holds so dear.
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