I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend. As always this is the sign that fall weather is around the corner. The town of Windham was buzzing with activity, and everyone was enjoying the shops and restaurants and enjoying all that the town offers.
In keeping with updating veterans with helpful information, I bring you information regarding the PACT Act Implementation Update.
In accordance with Section 507 of the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-168), VA requested that the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) conduct a study on potential links between military toxic exposures and mental, behavioral, and neurological health conditions, and chronic multisymptom illness.
The resulting consensus study report indicates possible relationship association between 24 pairs of toxic exposures and health outcomes out of 135 pairs. The study focused on veterans deployed to the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations or Afghanistan after Sept. 11, 2001, assessing nine categories of exposures and 14 health outcomes.
Locally, this past week the VFW lost one of our NY State Commanders, Harold Burke, Jr. The VFW held a chapel service in his honor at the Bond Funeral Home in Schenectady with burial with full military honors at the Gerald B H Soloman Saratoga National Cemetery. He was very much a mentor to me when I was District Commander.
The Medal of Honor has achieved prominence in American history like few other awards have. It’s a symbol for the very values its recipients displayed in the moments that mattered, an honor bestowed upon only the most honorable.
But before it garnered such distinction, it started as a simple idea from Iowa Senator James W. Grimes—a bill authorizing the production and distribution of “medals of honor” to be presented to enlisted seamen and marines who “distinguish themselves by gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities” during the American Civil War.
Since then, the Medal has undergone numerous legislative, design and presentation changes while still retaining what makes it truly special—its status as the United States' highest award for military valor in action.
The significance of the Medal of Honor is that it is the United States' highest military award for valor, presented by the President in the name of Congress to service members who exhibit extraordinary heroism and self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty in combat.
It is a symbol of supreme courage, integrity, patriotism, and sacrifice, commemorating the individuals who have shaped American history through their extraordinary acts of gallantry in the face of grave danger.
The medal also serves to inspire future generations by reminding them of the exceptional valor and commitment displayed by its recipients and by honoring the ultimate sacrifice made by many service members.
The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency did not announce any new identifications or burial updates this week. Accordingly, I will bring you one of America’s Medal of Honor recipients.
I am going back to the Civil War to bring you Mary Edwards Walker. She served as a Contract Surgeon in the US Army 1861-1864.
Her citation reads: Whereas it appears from official reports that Dr. Mary E. Walker, a graduate of medicine, "has rendered valuable service to the Government, and her efforts have been earnest and untiring in a variety of ways," and that she was assigned to duty and served as an assistant surgeon in charge of female prisoners at Louisville, Ky., upon the recommendation of Maj. Gens. Sherman and Thomas, and faithfully served as contract surgeon in the service of the United States, and has devoted herself with much patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soldiers, both in the field and hospitals, to the detriment of her own health, and has also endured hardships as a prisoner of war four months in a Southern prison while acting as contract surgeon;
And whereas by reason of her not being a commissioned officer in the military service, a brevet or honorary rank cannot, under existing laws, be conferred upon her;
And whereas in the opinion of the President an honorable recognition of her services and sufferings should be made; It is ordered, that a testimonial thereof shall be hereby made and given to the said Dr. Mary E. Walker, and that the usual Medal of Honor for meritorious services be given her.
Given under my hand in the city of Washington, D.C., this 11th day of November, A.D. 1865. ~ Andrew Johnson. Note: Presentation date and details : November 11, 1865, Walker’s Medal of Honor was rescinded following the 1916-1917 review of Army MOH awards as she was a civilian at the time of her valor; she was restored to the Medal of Honor roll in 1977.
These are extraordinary people that have performed these acts of heroism throughout our history. May God bless all who served our country and those still serving safe and God Bless America.
Marc Farmilette, PDC – VFW Post 1545 Commander
Mary Edwards Walker
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