U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, Pensacola Junior College, and Naval Air Station Pensacola will host the second annual Medal of Honor Day ceremony on Thursday, March 25, 9 a.m. at WSRE’s Jean & Paul Amos Performance Studio on PJC’s Pensacola campus.
The Medal of Honor ceremony is held to recognize recipients of the nation’s highest military medal and the sacrifices the recipients made in defense of the United States.
The Guest of Honor will be Medal of Honor recipient Robert Patterson, and guest speakers include Rear Admiral Joseph F. Kilkenny, Commander, Naval Education and Training Command; Pensacola Mayor Mike Wiggins; PJC President Ed Meadows; Col. Bruce H. McClintock, Commander 96th Air Base Wing, Eglin Air Force Base; and Commissioner Grover C. Robinson IV, Chairman, Escambia Board of County Commissioners. Sue Straughn, News Anchor for WEAR-TV Channel 3, will be the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Although his duties require his attention in Washington, Congressman Jeff Miller will deliver opening remarks for the event via video. “The Medal of Honor represents almost superhuman traits from ordinary citizens who ask for nothing more than to serve their nation,” commented Congressman Miller.
Robert Patterson received the Medal of Honor for actions during his service in the Vietnam War. As a fire team leader of the Troop B, 2nd Squad, 17th Calvary Regiment, Spec. 4 Patterson distinguished himself during an assault by the North Vietnamese Army. When his platoon was trapped by heavy fire from automatic weapons and grenades coming from enemy bunkers, Patterson, along with two other members from his platoon, moved forward under the storm of enemy fire. Upon discovering that an additional bunker was firing on his platoon, Patterson, in complete disregard for his own personal safety, assaulted and destroyed the position of the enemy. Without help, he destroyed five enemy bunkers, killed eight enemy soldiers and captured seven weapons. With his courage and heroic act he was an encouragement to the rest of his platoon who decided to resume their attack on the enemy. Patterson was promoted to sergeant and awarded the Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon in 1969 for his courage and selfless sacrifice during the battle.
The Medal of Honor Day ceremony is to pay tribute to the Medal of Honor recipients, but is also a recognition of the magnitude of the sacrifices that have been made. PJC President Ed Meadows commented, “National Medal of Honor Day helps Americans set aside their busy lives for a moment to appreciate and pay due respect to those in our Armed Forces who have gone beyond the call of duty in an act of extraordinary courage. To these, the most highly decorated for courage, and to all the other brave men and women who have and are currently defending our country, we take this occasion to pay tribute to the members of our Armed Forces and the sacrifices they and their families make to ensure our freedom for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The Medal of Honor Day event is free and open to the public. A screening of WSRE’s original documentary Honor Flight...A Journey of Heroes will immediately follow the ceremony. The Emmy® nominated and Telly Award-winning documentary chronicles the journey of a group of Northwest Florida's veterans from the Second World War as they travel to Washington D.C. on the inaugural trip of Emerald Coast Honor Flight to visit the WWII Memorial erected at our nation's capital in their honor.
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