Campus Life

UWF hosts national Medal of Honor Day

Congressman Jeff Miller, Naval Air Station Pensacola and the University of West Florida will host a National Medal of Honor Day Ceremony March 25 from 9 to 10 a.m. in the University Commons Conference Center. The event will feature guest speakers and Medal of Honor recipients George 'Bud' Day and Leonard B. Keller. Remarks will also be made by U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL-01) and Capt. William Reavey, commanding officer of the Naval Air Station Pensacola.

Congressman Jeff Miller, Naval Air Station Pensacola and the University of West Florida will host a National Medal of Honor Day Ceremony March 25 from 9 to 10 a.m. in the University Commons Conference Center. The event will feature guest speakers and Medal of Honor recipients George ‘Bud’ Day and Leonard B. Keller. Remarks will also be made by U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL-01) and Capt. William Reavey, commanding officer of the Naval Air Station Pensacola.

On Dec. 9, 1861, a bill was introduced in the United States Senate designed to “promote the efficiency of the Navy” by authorizing the production and distribution of “medals of honor.” The bill passed Dec. 21, authorizing 200 such medals be produced. President Lincoln signed the bill and the (Navy) Medal of Honor was born. Two months later on Feb. 17, 1862, Massachusetts Sen. Henry Wilson introduced a similar bill, this one to authorize “the President to distribute medals to privates in the Army of the United States who shall distinguish themselves in battle.” President Lincoln signed S.J.R. No. 82 on July 12, 1862, and the Army Medal of Honor was born. With this simple and rather obscure act, Congress created an award that would achieve prominence in American history like few others.

“It is fitting that we take a moment to honor this medal and the selfless acts of those who wear it,” said U.S. Rep. Miller. “The diversity of its recipients is a cross-section of society and exemplifies who we are as a nation.”

Day was awarded the Medal of Honor March 4, 1976, by U.S. President Gerald Ford for his personal bravery while a captive in North Vietnam. Day retired from active duty in 1977. Leonard Keller was awarded the Medal of Honor at the White House on September 19, 1968, for action in Vietnam. It was a moving occasion for him and for U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, as well. Keller noticed that tears coursed down the president’s cheeks throughout the entire ceremony. Currently, there are only 98 living Medal of Honor recipients out of the 3,448 recipients. Day and Keller both reside in Northwest Florida.

A reception will immediately follow the ceremony. The event is free and open to the public.

For more information or to make reservations, contact the UWF President’s Office at (850) 474-2200 or e-mail presidentsoffice@uwf.edu.

Written by Janice Cooper, University Marketing Communications