The National tribune., 1901-04-25
Congressional Medal of Honor Legion.

The Philadelphia Contingent Medal Of
Honor Legion celebrated "Appomattox Day"
April 0, by their annual dinner at Doones's
Hotel.
The Annual Conventions Of the Legion have
been held at Washington, Detroit, Boston,
Louisville, New York, Scranton, Brooklyn,
Burlington, etc, all members being dele
gates They will probably meet in the Quak
er City In 1902, when the Philadephians
will endeavor to sustain that city's reputa-
tiOn for hospitality.
The following present carried home neat
souvenir menu card. and pleasant recollec-
tions of very enjoyable evening:
Col. Chas. NJ. Belts, Richard Binder, Dan.
lei Caldwell, James G. Clark, Capt. Edward
John G. HuntersOn, John f. Mackie, Capt
Syl. II. Martin, James Miller, Gen. st. Clair
A. Mulholland Michael McKeever, George S.
Orth, Col. Noble d. Preston, George C.
yeale, VIM. j. Wray, Prof. Martin f. Scheib-
ner, Camden, n. j.; Capt. Everett W. Ander-
son, Pheon!xville, Pa; Capt. Nathaniel Nc
ligan, oxford, Pa; Col. John Wainright, VIII
mington, Del, and r. Franklin Belts, son Of
Col: Belts, and Richard c. X. Binder, son of
Richard Binder hereditary members.
County, Pa, who while Colonel of the 9th
Pa. and 4 member of the Pennsylvania Legis-
lature was captured by the Confederates and
captivity making the vote a tie, thereby dead
locking all war measures in that State, and
Capt. James Wells, of Bradford County, Pa,
and Tom Kay, the veteran singer, were hon
and responses were as follows: 1.-The Day
We Celebrate-Appomattox Maj. Moses
yeale; pennsylvania and Her Sister States" F"
Judge Gen. Harry White; United States
United States Navy" John F. Mackie;
Medal of Honor Legion" VIM. ]. Wray;
"Reminiscences of the Marine Corps" Rich
ard Bender; Veteran Societies and Kin
TSe co Nobe e0fn p ErestUn
The story was told of Rear-Admiral Mel
villes heroic feat while an engineer officer
on board the Wauchusetts at the time Of the
capture of the Confederate cruiser Florida,
In a Brazilian port, and it was unanimously
agreed to petition the Secretary of the
Navy to ask Congress to amend the law
granting Medals Of Honor to those who
served in the Navy, SO rs to include Naval
officers, in order that such heroes as Gushing,
Melville, Hobson, and others should receive
the decorations Of the Government.
The Medal of Honor Legion Is composed
Of those who have been awarded the Con-
gressiOnal Medal Of Honor for distinguished
conduct In battle. Some 5000 have been
these are members Of the Legion. 60, resld-
Ing In Pennsylvania and of this number %
reside in Philadelphia Congress. by resolu-
tlon, authorized the President of the United
in lieu OF the medal, which Is distributed
through the War and Navy Departments.
Lieut. Gen. Nelson A. Miles, commanding the
United States Army, was one of the Legion IS
Commanders; the present Commander is Dr..
Brush of Brooklyn. n. Y.
The Medal of Honor is a bronze star,
adopted by the Government In 1862; on one
side is Minerva holding of Discord, the other
side containing an inscription of name rank
company regiment and the incident that won
the decoration. These medals are made in
the United States MiDts. The Army and
Navy medals are indentical with the excep-
tion that those OF the Army hang from a
bar in design of n cornucopia; those of the
Navy hang from nm anchor. On state or
festive occasions the medal Is usually worn
on the breast, hanging from a broad ribbon
passed around the neck.
The Legion has provided for Its continuance
by hereditary membership-son, daughter or
other kin, as the member may elect.
At the business meeting Col. Chas. NJ.
Belts and VIM. ]. Wray who have been their
President and Secretary, respectively, since
the organization, were reelected.