This is the Medal of Honor flag, the first flag of its type ever to be presented.
Carved into these marble wall markers are the names of every soldier, sailor, Marine, or airman that has ever won a Medal of Honor. Sergeant Smith's name is on the marker covered on the far right and will be unveiled in the ceremony. The last two names on the marker just to the left are Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shugart, USA, and Master Sergeant Gary I. Gordon, USA. Both gave their lives rescuing Chief Warrant Officer Michael Durant when his Black Hawn was shot down in Somalia in 1993.
Neat bit of trivia I didn't know: There are three different designs for the Medal of Honor. The Army's, the Navy & Marine's, and the Air Force's.
A close up of the Army's Medal of Honor on display.
All the unimportant people had to sit outside the room and watch the ceremony on closed circuit tv. Neener! Neener! Neener!
Look closely and you can see where a childhood friend hit me in the side of the head with a hockey stick when I was eight.
Army Chief of Staff, General Peter Schoomaker speaks to the crowd.
Next, Secretary of the Army, Dr Francis Harvey.
The Don works the crowd. Actually, Mr Rumsfeld was very emotional during his speech and had to pause several times because his voice was cracking. Those who sat a little closer said they saw his eyes tear up a few times as well.
A zoomy close up with my weenie camera.
General Schoomaker, Dr Harvey, the Smith Family, and Mr Rumsfeld prepare to unveil Sergeant Smith's plaque which will hang in the Hall of Heroes. It consists of his service photograph anda copy of his citation. better picture of that later.
The unveiling of the latest addition to the list of Medal of Honor recipients.
Probably the best speech of all was given by Paul's wife, Birgit. And your Army folks will appreciate this, she ended her words to us all with a spirited, "Hoo-ah!" which was returned by the crowd.
Sergeant First Class Paul Ray Smith, recipient of the Medal of Honor.
A closeup of the plaque. The shadow you see is that of my friend's head. Thanks Zeno!
Heidi, moi, and Zeno standing below Sergeant Smith's name. Combined we stand maybe fifteen feet tall.
One of Paul's soldiers standing below his name.
The family's reception line was on the stage. Up front we have Brad's mom trying to figure out how to work the camcorder. Ha!
Ah, he sure can turn the charm on when he wants to, eh? Silver Star Bob schmoozes a handshake out of Donald Rumsfeld and his wife, Joyce.
I know what you're thinking. "How can we have the technology to drop a bomb 30,000 feet and have it land within inches of its target, but we can't find the original supplier of the marble for the wall markers? I wondered the same thing and the answer is, it is the same marble from the same supplier. It's just that the existing markers have been faded by being under bright spotlights for 24 hours a day for the past umpteen years. Before you know it, Sergeant Smith's will blend right in.
A close up of his name.
