On This Memorial Day

Let us remember the sacrifice of the men and women of our armed forces who have lost their lives in service to our country.
Today, we remember the courage displayed by some of the Heroes of WWI

The “Harlem Hellfighters”[top] were an all-black National Guard unit that was among the first American forces to arrive in Europe during World War I. Members of the unit were awarded the Croix de Guerre, one of France’s highest military honors, and the Distinguished Service Cross, the United States Army’s second highest military decoration for soldiers who display extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force.

Marine Sergeant Dan Daly[left] was decorated Marine before WWI broke out, awarded the Medal of Honor on two separate occasions. He was recommended for the Medal of Honor for his actions at Belleau Wood, but the military was concerned with a soldier receiving the award three times. He was instead given the Distinguished Service Cross and the French Medaille Militaire.

Sergeant Alvin York[bottom] was once described as World War I’s “greatest civilian soldier,” yet he began the conflict as a conscientious objector. York was awarded the Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, and several other citations for bravery. The well-known soldier returned to his home in Tennessee after the war, and took up farming. Later, he worked to introduce new schools to his mountain community.