(PUEBLO, Colo.) — In Pueblo, there’s a profound sense of recognition and immense pride for those who served our country. The city’s exceptional distinction lies in its remarkable number of Medal of Honor recipients compared to others, further enhancing the significance of National Medal of Honor Day for those who proudly call this place home.
“There’s been almost over 40 million service members in American service branches, and yet only 3,517 recipients,” Education Development Director for the Center for American Values, Lis Richard said. “I did the math once, and that is a fraction of 1% and it is quite amazing that Pueblo has their four and that we can honor so many here with these portraits, having this day’s event.”
Along the walls of the Center for American Values were numerous photographs, each depicting Medal of Honor recipients. These images provided guests with a visual connection to the names of the select few who achieved such a prestigious distinction.
“We have one of America’s largest photo galleries of Medal of Honor recipients,” Richard said. “We started in 1999 taking photos and at that time there were about 150 living recipients and now there’s 63 and it’s so unique and so unbelievable.”
The Center for American Values welcomed and educated many visitors about the National Medal of Honor Day.
The center extended a warm welcome to those of all ages, including veterans and active-duty service members, to join in the celebration of our nation’s history. Among them was military veteran Walter Lau Hee, who expressed his awe at the incredible nature of the gallery.
“I’m a little bit overwhelmed by that emotionally and everything, like knowing from my own experience, from being down-range of stuff like that,” Hee said. “I can’t even imagine what these guys went through and saw.”
Within the gallery, there’s a distinct honor reserved for the four whose hometown was Pueblo, reflecting the immense pride the city holds for its own. Among them is Drew Dix, who took a moment to visit the center and engage with those attending this special day of celebration.
“Being a part of Medal of Honor Day is, is very significant because there’s 63 living Medal of Honor recipients and they’re doing things today all over the country,” Dix said. “There’s a large group out in Arlington that we have a ceremony every year.”
Medal of Honor Recipient Drew Dix engaged with those in attendance, sharing what the distinction means to him and honoring the memory of those he remembers while wearing it.
In sharing his story, Dix was able to reveal to guests the profound significance of this distinction and convey the pride he feels for all recipients across the country.
“You don’t have to have a medal of Honor or even be in the military to do the right thing,” Dix said. “We use the Medal of Honor recipients because they were in a situation where if they didn’t do what they did, the situation would have been much different, the outcome would have been different.”
The walls are lined with photographs, offering visitors a glimpse into the lives of the select few in history who achieved this prestigious recognition.
The stories captured within these pictures serve as a source of inspiration, bearing witness to the unwavering dedication to service and the relentless pursuit of freedom.
“This is our history and there’s some stuff that some people are not proud of about our history,” Hee said. “And there’s some stuff that we absolutely need to be proud of.”
