Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1915-02-16

. N QuuIteIutCh VI tue bhiucu
- States ship Florida in the pres
ence of the secretary of the navy, the
commander in chief OF the United
States Atlantic fleet, his staff, the cap
ktains and officers of vessels then In
sport and hundreds Of their comrades
|. .Vf the ranks. who had shared their dan
l 'ers and borne with patience months
N Tedious duty in a tropical CLINE,
hirfeen Of the fourteen enlisted men
yf,sthe navy who so distinguished them
selves under fire at Vera Cruz that
they were to receive the much priced
medal Of honor. 1t was the tribute OF
the country, voiced by that branch OF
the service in which they served, for
their meritorious conduct when put to
the severest test. In addressing our
newest heroes at the presentation ex-
ercises Secretary Daniels said:
'The medals presented today are
tokens of grateful country's appre-
citation of work nobly done, of duty
well performed, of readiness to face
grave danger. They are given to men
who by their conduct under fre nave
wop renown not only for themselves
butsAor their companions In arms their
comrades who, while hoping FOR OPP
portunities for themselves, yet reJolce
in the good fortune OF their shipmates
ir being where the fight was thickest'
the field of service greatest, Tor that Is
the ambition of men bearing arms.
And that is one of the most pleasing
elements in the qualification we feel
today-this readiness to extend lhe
merit and the honor TO all who wear
the uniform.
"You know that the signal most
priced in the fleet Is the one hylhs
from the flagship telling. with It's let-
ters of many colors, that something
has been well done and that, whlle
some narticular one. perhaps. has won
IL, vet the honor is for the snip ana an
its crew of officers and men whose
teamwork has made the winning pos
slble.
"'rhe blueiacket. Let us take OF our
hats TO him In the street, for his UNI
form is the blue badge of courage;
take him by the hand, for his mana
protects our homes; treat him win
respect, for he rings true, and his heart
Is of the finest gold.
The medal of honor is the highest rec
ynition any American can receive from
kpoyernment. All fourteen who re-
Ned the medal of honor received also
a sratuity Of $10O. Thirteen OF them
were advanced six months ago TO the
next higher rating. and the fourteenth
man was given permission to particr
pate i'm the next examinations Tor war
rant officer
An ffty-two of the other enlisted
mo who distinguished themselves less
onl NJ than those awarded the medal
of 2orfr received letters of commen-
datlon from the navy department. Six
were allowed TO participate in the next
examination for warrant officer ana
forty-six were Immediately advanced
20 the next higher rating than they
<then held.
Such are The substantial rewards the
navy accords her heroes. These are
however. symbols Of recognition Tor
services that are unusual, caused gen
orally by circumstances we strive ear
nestly 90 avoid Through the dlspen-
sation of "A protecting Providence we
seldom have had 20 brave the dan
gers of the sword. aud in the annals
of our history the peace hero yies for
distinction with the hero baptized by
fire.
But before relating how Uncle sam
rewards the peace hero let us see what
happens to his naval employee who
aequit themselves with credit In the or
dinary functions of their profession.
Extended service Is recognized with