Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-07-13
The Medal of Honor Legion.

The war of the rebellion had been in
progress a year or more when Congress
authorized and made an appropriation for
"A Medal of Honor" to he presented 10
"such officers, ron-commissloncd officers
and privatcs as have most distinguished
themselves or may ho~eafter most distn-
guish themselves in action. Under the or
iginal act of July II, 1862 and subsequent
act of March B. 1868, about two thousand
such medals have been presented to as
mary soldiers and sailors, who fought for
the flag in the great struggle for the life
of the nation. The medals have for tho
NEST part been awarded by the war de-
partment-a few having also been award
cd 10 individuals by special acts--all in the
name of the Congress of the United states
The medal has never been given to any
soldier upon his own application; but al
ways upon the application of other sol
diors, and only upon authenticated evil
dcnCe of the performance of the act deem-
cd worthy of such distinction. That these
medals have not been distributed very law
lshly is evident from the fact that of the
upwards of two million seven hundred
thousand men who served in the Union
army and navy, only two thousand havo
Vocc!ved medals of honor. In other words
only one man out of every thirteen hun
dred who wore the blue has received a
medal. 1t Is of course simply impossible
TO distribute such badges of merit
with absolute fairness. The prizes
in, business, in society, in the professions
and elsewhere are not so allotted, any
more than in army life. Many holder
of the medal will say there were men who
deserved it more than he, who did not get
it. But he can also say that it came TO
him unsough;. And on the whole it will
have to be admitted that those who wear
the Medal of Honor, were and are men
who had the opportunity to render uls-
tinguished service in arms for the
cause of the Union and proved equal to
the opportunity. The medal is thus n
badge of high honor OF the whole num-
Der who have received medals, about a
thousand veterans of the army and two
hundred of the navy survive to wear their
honors Among them are Generals Scho-
field, Miles, Howard Siciles Wilson,
Shafter, Merriam, Guy V. Henry, Law
ton, Carr and many other mcl of nation
al fame in civil al well as military life
The Medal of Honor Legion was organ
lied a few years ago. membership in it
being limited to holders of the medal. 1t
has held eight conventions, not large in
numbers. seldom, we believe, exceeding Il
hundred and fifty members but compos-
ed Of gentlemen of intelligence and stand
ing and comprising men of high dstinc-
ton. Its ninth annual convention meets
in this city next Monday evening and
will be in session the two following days.
The arrangements planned by our citizens
to do honor to the occasion and to make
their stay in Burlington pleasant to the
members have been announced, In those,
We are sure our citizens generally Will lie
glad TO participate. 1t is not likely that
the Medal Of Honor Legion will meet
again in our city Burlington will give
the veterans a cordial greeting and will OF
course sustain its reputation for hospital
| ity and courtesy.