Bedford in Bedford County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Medal of Honor (MOH)

The Medal of Honor Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 3, 2026

1. The Medal of Honor Marker

Inscription.

The Medal of Honor (MOH). . , Presented by the President in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor is the highest decoration bestowed upon members of the United States Military, awarded only sparingly, it recognizes extraordinary heroism involving conspicuous acts of “gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty” while “engaged in action against an enemy of the United States.”, Often referred to informally as the Congressional Medal of Honor, the medal was established for the Navy and Marines in 1861, and for the Army in 1862. A version specifically for the Air Force was designed in 1965., There are three distinct designs or the medal with the Army version featuring a five-point start suspended from and eagle and the word valor. The Navy medal (also awarded to the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard) features a similar five-point star suspended from an anchor. The Air Force medal (which includes the Space Force) has a star encircled by a wreath hanging from a stylized lighting bolt, while the medal itself and the criteria for awarding it have evolved through the years, the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice it exemplifies never diminished., Just over 3,500 Medals of Honor have been bestowed in American history. For service in world war two, only 472 Medals of Honor have been awarded to individual service members to date, out of more than sixteen million Americans who served in uniform. A number of those medals were upgraded to the Medal of Honor after it was determined that racial discrimination had prevented recipients from receiving the nation’s highest award for valor., On D-Day, 6 June 1944, extraordinary bravery and sacrifice were displayed in abundance. Nevertheless, only four Medals of Honor have been awarded for service on D-Day. Those recipients were: Pvt. Carlton Barrett, 18th Infantry, 1st Division; 1st Lt. Jimmie Monteith, Jr., 16th Infantry, 1st Division; Technician 5th Grade John J. Pinder, 16th Infantry, 1st Division; and Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., 4th Infantry Division. Only Barrett lived to receive his medal personally. Monteith and Pinder were killed in combat on D-Day, while Roosevelt died of a heart attack soon afterwards. Twelve other soldiers received the highest commendation for later service in the liberation of France., In 2015, at the presentation of the Medal of Honor posthumously to two World War I heroes, President Barack Obama noted that “We are a nation – a people – who remember our heroes…We never forget their sacrifice.” In this act of remembrance, Medal of Honor Day is celebrated annually on March 25 to “foster public appreciation and recognition of Medal of Honor Recipients.” This garden is dedicated to preserving the memory of those who merit this highest honor, and to inspiring those who think upon their service., In tribute and in memory of our friend Hershel “Woody” Williams, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient of world war two, dedicated by Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam Veteran Drew Dennis Dix on D-Day, 6 June 2026. ,

Presented by the President in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor is the highest decoration bestowed upon members of the United States Military, awarded only sparingly, it recognizes extraordinary heroism involving conspicuous acts of “gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty” while “engaged in action against an enemy of the United States.”

Often referred to informally as the Congressional Medal of Honor, the medal was established for the Navy and Marines in 1861, and for the Army in 1862. A version specifically for the Air Force was designed in 1965.

There are three distinct designs or the medal with the Army version featuring a five-point start suspended from and eagle and the word valor. The Navy medal (also awarded to the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard) features a similar five-point star suspended from an anchor. The Air Force medal (which includes the Space Force) has a star encircled by a wreath hanging from a stylized lighting bolt, while the medal itself and the criteria for awarding it have evolved through the years, the valor, fidelity, and sacrifice it exemplifies

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never diminished.

Just over 3,500 Medals of Honor have been bestowed in American history. For service in WWII, only 472 Medals of Honor have been awarded to individual service members to date, out of more than sixteen million Americans who served in uniform. A number of those medals were upgraded to the Medal of Honor after it was determined that racial discrimination had prevented recipients from receiving the nation’s highest award for valor.

On D-Day, 6 June 1944, extraordinary bravery and sacrifice were displayed in abundance. Nevertheless, only four Medals of Honor have been awarded for service on D-Day. Those recipients were: Pvt. Carlton Barrett, 18th Infantry, 1st Division; 1st Lt. Jimmie Monteith, Jr., 16th Infantry, 1st Division; Technician 5th Grade John J. Pinder, 16th Infantry, 1st Division; and Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., 4th Infantry Division. Only Barrett lived to receive his medal personally. Monteith and Pinder were killed in combat on D-Day, while Roosevelt died of a heart attack soon afterwards. Twelve other soldiers received the highest commendation for later service in the liberation of France.

In

Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 3, 2026

2. The Medal of Honor Marker

Marker is 2nd from left.

2015, at the presentation of the Medal of Honor posthumously to two World War I heroes, President Barack Obama noted that “We are a nation – a people – who remember our heroes…We never forget their sacrifice.” In this act of remembrance, Medal of Honor Day is celebrated annually on March 25 to “foster public appreciation and recognition of Medal of Honor Recipients.” This garden is dedicated to preserving the memory of those who merit this highest honor, and to inspiring those who think upon their service.

In tribute and in memory of our friend Hershel “Woody” Williams, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient of WWII, dedicated by Medal of Honor recipient and Vietnam Veteran Drew Dennis Dix on D-Day, 6 June 2026.

Erected 2026.

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Military • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Medal of Honor Recipients series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 25, 1861.

Location. 37° 19.841′ N, 79° 32.133′ W. Memorial is in Bedford, Virginia, in Bedford County. It can be reached from Overlord Circle, on the left when traveling north. Marker is located

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at the National D-Day Memorial. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Bedford VA 24523, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in Southwest Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1LT Jimmie W. Monteith Jr. (here, next to this marker); Gold Star Families Memorial Monument (a few steps from this marker); Gold Star Family Memorial Garden (a few steps from this marker); Second World War Mothers and Widows Badge (a few steps from this marker); Médaille commémorative de la guerre 1940-1945 (a few steps from this marker); The Citadel (a few steps from this marker); United States Naval Academy (a few steps from this marker); United States Military Academy (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bedford.

Also see . . .
1. Jimmie W. Monteith Jr. (Submitted on July 22, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
2. Carlton William Barrett. (Submitted on July 22, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
3. Theodore Roosevelt Jr. (Submitted on July 22, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
4. John J. Pinder Jr. (Submitted on July 22, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 22, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.