1 00:00:00,209 --> 00:00:02,480 As we mark this occasion in prayer for 2 00:00:02,490 --> 00:00:05,590 the education , almighty God 3 00:00:05,869 --> 00:00:09,010 giver of courage and strength to all 4 00:00:09,020 --> 00:00:11,729 those who seek your face . We thank you 5 00:00:11,739 --> 00:00:14,489 for your presence with us today as we 6 00:00:14,500 --> 00:00:16,989 gather to bestow our nation's highest 7 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,319 honor upon these valiant souls whose 8 00:00:20,329 --> 00:00:23,850 bold and heroic actions remind us of 9 00:00:23,860 --> 00:00:26,590 the price so many have paid for the 10 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:29,090 sake of liberty and justice for all 11 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,139 while our nation pauses to remember the 12 00:00:32,150 --> 00:00:34,630 enduring legacy of privates , George D 13 00:00:34,639 --> 00:00:38,479 Wilson and Philip G Shadrack , help us 14 00:00:38,490 --> 00:00:41,150 to hold fast the principles they so 15 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:44,330 bravely defended and help us to hold 16 00:00:44,340 --> 00:00:46,860 high the light of liberty they fought 17 00:00:46,869 --> 00:00:50,419 to preserve as we honor the sacrifice 18 00:00:50,430 --> 00:00:53,369 of these brave men , grant us Lord 19 00:00:53,380 --> 00:00:56,549 strength to face our battles , courage 20 00:00:56,689 --> 00:00:59,580 to ride toward justice as these young 21 00:00:59,590 --> 00:01:03,150 men did on that great locomotive and 22 00:01:03,159 --> 00:01:06,580 unwavering faith and hope that even in 23 00:01:06,589 --> 00:01:09,309 our darkest hour , the light of freedom 24 00:01:09,419 --> 00:01:12,190 will continue to shine . May their 25 00:01:12,199 --> 00:01:14,629 example illuminate our paths and 26 00:01:14,639 --> 00:01:16,940 inspire us to uphold justice and 27 00:01:16,949 --> 00:01:19,889 righteousness in our own lives , in our 28 00:01:19,900 --> 00:01:22,849 communities , in our nation and around 29 00:01:22,860 --> 00:01:26,019 the world . And heavenly Father blessed 30 00:01:26,029 --> 00:01:28,140 the family members gathered here with 31 00:01:28,140 --> 00:01:31,650 us today and all future generations 32 00:01:31,750 --> 00:01:34,879 who hear of these great deeds and 33 00:01:34,889 --> 00:01:38,599 sacrifice of these two young heroes , 34 00:01:39,290 --> 00:01:42,160 Lord bless our great nation and the 35 00:01:42,169 --> 00:01:45,220 freedoms we cherish and enjoy as 36 00:01:45,230 --> 00:01:48,190 Americans in your holy name . We pray . 37 00:01:48,750 --> 00:01:49,379 Amen . 38 00:01:57,279 --> 00:01:59,800 Please be seated . Thank you . Hm . 39 00:02:03,089 --> 00:02:04,589 It's a long time in coming 40 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,167 one year into the civil war to abolish 41 00:02:09,167 --> 00:02:13,130 slavery of fighting raged across the 42 00:02:13,139 --> 00:02:15,660 states . The fate of the nation hung in 43 00:02:15,669 --> 00:02:18,399 the balance . President Abraham Lincoln 44 00:02:18,410 --> 00:02:21,919 created an a war to honor ordinary 45 00:02:21,929 --> 00:02:23,979 Americans who showed extraordinary 46 00:02:23,990 --> 00:02:27,059 courage in the battle to save the union . 47 00:02:27,979 --> 00:02:31,240 The ward was a star shaped metal made 48 00:02:31,250 --> 00:02:33,789 of copper and coated in bronze . At 49 00:02:34,350 --> 00:02:36,860 first , it was called the Army Medal of 50 00:02:36,869 --> 00:02:40,210 Honor . In time to capture the full 51 00:02:40,220 --> 00:02:42,910 capacity of our armed forces became 52 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:45,179 known simply as the medal of honor . 53 00:02:46,089 --> 00:02:49,759 Today is our nation's highest military 54 00:02:49,770 --> 00:02:53,320 honor . Secretary Austin , Secretary 55 00:02:53,330 --> 00:02:57,160 mcdonough Secretary War warmer chairman 56 00:02:57,169 --> 00:02:59,850 Brown General Millie . Previous medal 57 00:02:59,860 --> 00:03:01,582 of honor recipients are here . 58 00:03:01,582 --> 00:03:04,029 Distinguished guests . The very first 59 00:03:04,039 --> 00:03:06,261 recipient in the middle of honor were a 60 00:03:06,261 --> 00:03:09,729 small band known as Andrews Raiders 61 00:03:10,149 --> 00:03:13,070 named for a spy for the Union army , 62 00:03:13,710 --> 00:03:16,369 James Andrews who led one of the most 63 00:03:16,380 --> 00:03:19,130 daring operations in the entire civil 64 00:03:19,139 --> 00:03:22,330 war . Every soldier who joined that 65 00:03:22,339 --> 00:03:24,506 mission was awarded the medal of honor 66 00:03:24,710 --> 00:03:28,320 except for two two soldiers who died 67 00:03:28,630 --> 00:03:30,741 because of that operation , but never 68 00:03:30,741 --> 00:03:34,039 received this recognition . Today we 69 00:03:34,050 --> 00:03:37,429 right that wrong today , they finally 70 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,551 received the recognition they deserve 71 00:03:40,389 --> 00:03:42,779 private George Wilson , born in Belmont 72 00:03:42,789 --> 00:03:46,059 County Ohio in his early thirties . Not 73 00:03:46,070 --> 00:03:48,380 long after the civil war began , he 74 00:03:48,389 --> 00:03:51,339 enlisted in the Union Army . He joined 75 00:03:51,350 --> 00:03:53,294 the second Ohio volunteer infantry 76 00:03:53,294 --> 00:03:56,610 regiment . He was a father mechanic 77 00:03:57,110 --> 00:03:59,830 and he was a hell of a debater . He 78 00:03:59,839 --> 00:04:02,029 always was ready to persuade , argue . 79 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:04,520 And as one family member put it , dress 80 00:04:04,529 --> 00:04:08,309 anyone down if the need be private . 81 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:10,759 Philip Shadrack , born in Somerset 82 00:04:10,770 --> 00:04:13,289 County Pennsylvania . By the time he 83 00:04:13,300 --> 00:04:15,779 was a teenager , Philip was an orphan , 84 00:04:16,220 --> 00:04:18,500 a laborer did everything he could to 85 00:04:18,510 --> 00:04:21,880 get by from what we know he was a free 86 00:04:21,890 --> 00:04:24,790 spirit . Always searching for adventure , 87 00:04:24,799 --> 00:04:27,750 excitement , intrigue . In his early 88 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:29,982 twenties , Phillip enlisted joining the 89 00:04:29,982 --> 00:04:32,589 Ohio regiment that George did the same 90 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:35,190 one with us today are members of those 91 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:38,070 families , Teresa Chandler , George's 92 00:04:38,079 --> 00:04:40,679 great , great granddaughter Gerald 93 00:04:40,690 --> 00:04:43,690 Taylor Phillip's great grandnephew . 94 00:04:44,549 --> 00:04:46,716 They shared with us how the stories of 95 00:04:46,716 --> 00:04:49,190 their brave ancestors were passed down 96 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,089 for families for generation after 97 00:04:51,089 --> 00:04:54,709 generation , for Philip and George and 98 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:56,776 their brothers in arms , serving our 99 00:04:56,776 --> 00:04:59,679 country meant serving our country , our 100 00:04:59,690 --> 00:05:02,850 country fighting and even dying to 101 00:05:02,859 --> 00:05:05,350 preserve the union and the sacred 102 00:05:05,359 --> 00:05:08,290 values . It was founded upon freedom , 103 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:12,179 justice , fairness , unity . 104 00:05:13,079 --> 00:05:15,420 George and Philip were willing to shed 105 00:05:15,429 --> 00:05:19,380 their blood to make these ideals real 106 00:05:19,950 --> 00:05:23,720 folks . It was April 7th , 1862 107 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:26,790 James Andrew , the union spy who 108 00:05:26,799 --> 00:05:28,743 regularly sneak behind Confederate 109 00:05:28,743 --> 00:05:31,040 lines was preparing to lead a daring 110 00:05:31,049 --> 00:05:34,420 scheme . A group of two dozen soldiers 111 00:05:34,429 --> 00:05:36,589 including George and Philip would 112 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:38,970 travel 200 miles deep into the 113 00:05:38,980 --> 00:05:41,450 confederate territory and steal a 114 00:05:41,459 --> 00:05:44,290 confederate chain a train near Atlanta 115 00:05:44,940 --> 00:05:47,640 and drive it north to Chattanooga just 116 00:05:47,649 --> 00:05:50,640 over the Georgia border which Union 117 00:05:50,649 --> 00:05:52,871 troops were preparing to capture . That 118 00:05:52,871 --> 00:05:55,269 is Chattanooga . Along the train 119 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:57,223 journey , they would destroy enemy 120 00:05:57,223 --> 00:06:00,720 bridges , railroad tracks , telegraph 121 00:06:00,730 --> 00:06:02,970 lines , disrupting communications and 122 00:06:02,980 --> 00:06:05,869 vital supply lines , sabotaging the 123 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,102 railroad that the confederate army used 124 00:06:08,102 --> 00:06:10,600 to move troops . All of that would make 125 00:06:10,609 --> 00:06:12,831 the union capture Chattanooga much more 126 00:06:12,831 --> 00:06:15,160 likely . And that would cut off the 127 00:06:15,170 --> 00:06:18,429 confederate army from both Ohio and 128 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:21,209 Mississippi river valleys . A huge , a 129 00:06:21,220 --> 00:06:23,880 huge strategic victory could bring the 130 00:06:23,890 --> 00:06:26,690 war to a swift end . The risk of this 131 00:06:26,700 --> 00:06:29,299 mission and the risk of all this 132 00:06:29,309 --> 00:06:32,119 mission were enormous . If caught , 133 00:06:32,130 --> 00:06:34,929 they would certainly be killed . Philip 134 00:06:34,940 --> 00:06:36,950 George , all the men were given a 135 00:06:36,959 --> 00:06:40,109 chance to walk away . Not one of them 136 00:06:40,119 --> 00:06:42,010 did not , one of them walked away 137 00:06:42,829 --> 00:06:44,885 instead , they changing the civilian 138 00:06:44,885 --> 00:06:48,100 clothes , got a few hours sleep and set 139 00:06:48,109 --> 00:06:51,760 out for Georgia . Several days later , 140 00:06:52,570 --> 00:06:54,792 nearly all of them including George and 141 00:06:54,792 --> 00:06:57,126 Phillip made it to the rendezvous point . 142 00:06:57,126 --> 00:06:59,348 A train station just north of Atlanta . 143 00:06:59,348 --> 00:07:01,690 They gathered at midnight and waited 144 00:07:01,700 --> 00:07:03,756 until morning when the conductor and 145 00:07:03,756 --> 00:07:06,149 passengers disembarked for breakfast . 146 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:09,142 They made , that's when they made their 147 00:07:09,142 --> 00:07:11,170 move quickly and quietly . They 148 00:07:11,179 --> 00:07:13,049 detached three box cars and a 149 00:07:13,059 --> 00:07:16,309 locomotive hopped in , began moving at 150 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:19,549 full speed north to Tennessee almost 151 00:07:19,559 --> 00:07:21,337 immediately . The problems were 152 00:07:21,337 --> 00:07:23,115 increased . Rain made it nearly 153 00:07:23,115 --> 00:07:26,470 impossible to burn the tracks and the 154 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,019 bridges along the way , there were 155 00:07:29,029 --> 00:07:31,251 other trains on the track that were not 156 00:07:31,251 --> 00:07:33,251 supposed to have been there slowing 157 00:07:33,251 --> 00:07:35,869 them down considerably . By then . 158 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,158 Confederate forces were in hot pursuit . 159 00:07:38,549 --> 00:07:40,869 But George and Philip and the rest of 160 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:43,100 the Raiders didn't quit . They kept 161 00:07:43,109 --> 00:07:46,130 going nearly for seven hours destroying 162 00:07:46,140 --> 00:07:48,251 as much track as they could along the 163 00:07:48,251 --> 00:07:50,700 way and cutting as many telegraph wires 164 00:07:50,709 --> 00:07:53,040 as they could . They almost made it to 165 00:07:53,049 --> 00:07:55,619 Georgia but about 15 miles from 166 00:07:55,630 --> 00:07:58,790 Chattanooga , they ran out of fuel and 167 00:07:58,799 --> 00:08:01,529 the confederates closed in . The 168 00:08:01,540 --> 00:08:04,350 Raiders took off on foot , running and 169 00:08:04,359 --> 00:08:06,920 hiding in the woods . They survived 170 00:08:06,929 --> 00:08:09,799 there for weeks but one by one 171 00:08:09,970 --> 00:08:12,040 confederate soldiers supporters and 172 00:08:12,049 --> 00:08:14,320 their bloodhounds rounded them up . 173 00:08:15,489 --> 00:08:17,711 They were taken to a confederate prison 174 00:08:17,829 --> 00:08:21,190 held in a tiny underground room chained 175 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:24,100 by their necks and their wrist starved . 176 00:08:24,890 --> 00:08:26,920 Still the men remain unbowed and 177 00:08:26,929 --> 00:08:30,200 unbroken . Eventually eight escaped . 178 00:08:30,660 --> 00:08:32,604 Six were exchanged for confederate 179 00:08:32,604 --> 00:08:34,820 prisoners . The rest including Philip 180 00:08:34,830 --> 00:08:38,559 and George were tried as spies and both 181 00:08:38,570 --> 00:08:42,070 sentenced to death . And that fateful 182 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:44,840 day came as they approached the gallows . 183 00:08:45,130 --> 00:08:48,500 Philip and George still stood tall . A 184 00:08:48,530 --> 00:08:51,320 crowd gathered around them . Private 185 00:08:51,330 --> 00:08:53,940 Wilson turned to face the crowd , 186 00:08:54,489 --> 00:08:57,299 summoned the ultimate measure of grace . 187 00:08:57,679 --> 00:08:59,957 And according to reports from that day , 188 00:08:59,957 --> 00:09:02,179 this is what he said . He looked at the 189 00:09:02,179 --> 00:09:04,401 crowd and he said he believed they were 190 00:09:04,401 --> 00:09:07,309 wrong , but he did not harbor hostility 191 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:09,549 toward the people of the South . He 192 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:12,229 said it was not them but their leaders 193 00:09:12,239 --> 00:09:14,590 who were responsible for the rebellion . 194 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,929 And he said the time would come when 195 00:09:18,940 --> 00:09:21,960 the Union would be restored and the 196 00:09:21,969 --> 00:09:23,858 American flag would wave over the 197 00:09:23,858 --> 00:09:27,229 entire nation once again . Ladies and 198 00:09:27,239 --> 00:09:30,969 gentlemen , until the very end , George 199 00:09:30,979 --> 00:09:32,868 and Philip believed in the United 200 00:09:32,868 --> 00:09:35,590 States of America . The only nation on 201 00:09:35,599 --> 00:09:38,880 earth founded on an idea every other 202 00:09:38,890 --> 00:09:40,834 nation in or in the history of the 203 00:09:40,834 --> 00:09:43,409 world is based on geography , ethnicity , 204 00:09:43,419 --> 00:09:45,739 religion , or some other attribute . 205 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:48,662 But we're the only nation founded on an 206 00:09:48,662 --> 00:09:51,270 idea . That idea is where all men are 207 00:09:51,280 --> 00:09:53,502 created , equal , deserve to be treated 208 00:09:53,502 --> 00:09:55,690 equally throughout their lives . We 209 00:09:55,700 --> 00:09:57,929 haven't always lived up to that , but 210 00:09:57,940 --> 00:09:59,996 like George and Philip , we've never 211 00:09:59,996 --> 00:10:02,349 walked away from it either . The heroic 212 00:10:02,359 --> 00:10:04,415 deeds went unacknowledged for over a 213 00:10:04,415 --> 00:10:06,979 century . But time did not erase their 214 00:10:06,989 --> 00:10:10,400 valor and they want to fight for what 215 00:10:10,409 --> 00:10:12,890 they fought for and they died just as 216 00:10:12,900 --> 00:10:14,609 precious today as it was then 217 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:19,119 unity over disunion , disunion , 218 00:10:19,690 --> 00:10:22,739 freedom over subjugation , progress 219 00:10:22,750 --> 00:10:26,030 over retreat , truth over lies . 220 00:10:27,070 --> 00:10:29,630 Let me end with this . Tomorrow is the 221 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,409 fourth of July . Another reminder of 222 00:10:32,419 --> 00:10:34,308 why it's so important to know our 223 00:10:34,308 --> 00:10:37,270 history , not to erase our history , to 224 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:39,679 remember the sacred cause of American 225 00:10:39,690 --> 00:10:42,909 democracy and not make up a lost cause 226 00:10:42,919 --> 00:10:45,169 to justify evil of slavery . To 227 00:10:45,179 --> 00:10:47,650 remember the nation that George and 228 00:10:47,659 --> 00:10:50,010 Philip fought for and died for the 229 00:10:50,020 --> 00:10:53,000 United States of America that's who we 230 00:10:53,010 --> 00:10:55,080 are . That's who we are . The United 231 00:10:55,090 --> 00:10:57,201 States of America . There's nothing , 232 00:10:57,201 --> 00:10:59,146 nothing beyond our capacity in the 233 00:10:59,146 --> 00:11:01,257 United States . If we work together , 234 00:11:01,257 --> 00:11:03,760 God bless you all . May God protect our 235 00:11:03,770 --> 00:11:06,440 troops with that . It's my honor to ask 236 00:11:06,450 --> 00:11:08,506 the military to read the citations . 237 00:11:08,506 --> 00:11:09,506 Thank you 238 00:11:25,250 --> 00:11:27,479 Gerald Taylor . Accepting on behalf of 239 00:11:27,489 --> 00:11:29,656 his great great uncle , private Philip 240 00:11:29,656 --> 00:11:31,919 Shadrack and Teresa Chandler accepting 241 00:11:31,929 --> 00:11:33,540 on behalf of her great great 242 00:11:33,540 --> 00:11:35,651 grandfather , Private George Wilson , 243 00:11:53,380 --> 00:11:56,000 attention to orders the president of 244 00:11:56,010 --> 00:11:58,232 the United States of America authorized 245 00:11:58,232 --> 00:12:01,780 by act of Congress March 3rd , 1863 has 246 00:12:01,789 --> 00:12:03,789 posthumously awarded in the name of 247 00:12:03,789 --> 00:12:05,622 Congress . The medal of honor to 248 00:12:05,729 --> 00:12:08,450 private Philip G Shadrick and private 249 00:12:08,460 --> 00:12:11,250 George D Wilson , United States Army 250 00:12:11,260 --> 00:12:12,927 for conspicuous gallantry and 251 00:12:12,927 --> 00:12:15,219 intrepidity at the risk of their life 252 00:12:15,229 --> 00:12:17,229 above and beyond the call of duty . 253 00:12:17,409 --> 00:12:19,950 Private Philip G Shadrack and Private 254 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:21,627 George D Wilson distinguished 255 00:12:21,627 --> 00:12:23,627 themselves by acts of Gallantry and 256 00:12:23,627 --> 00:12:25,738 intrepidity above and beyond the call 257 00:12:25,738 --> 00:12:27,849 of duty while serving with the second 258 00:12:27,849 --> 00:12:30,071 Ohio Volunteer Infantry in Georgia . On 259 00:12:30,071 --> 00:12:32,979 12 April 1862 . Private Shadrack and 260 00:12:32,989 --> 00:12:35,609 Private Wilson were two of 22 Andrews 261 00:12:35,619 --> 00:12:37,630 Raiders who by direction of Major 262 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:40,090 General Ormsby M Mitchell penetrated 263 00:12:40,099 --> 00:12:41,988 nearly 200 miles south into enemy 264 00:12:41,988 --> 00:12:44,270 territory upon capturing a railroad 265 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:46,960 train at Big Shanty in Georgia . The 266 00:12:46,969 --> 00:12:49,191 group set out to complete their mission 267 00:12:49,191 --> 00:12:51,191 of disrupting enemy supply lines by 268 00:12:51,191 --> 00:12:53,302 destroying bridges and tracks between 269 00:12:53,302 --> 00:12:55,191 Chattanooga and Atlanta . Private 270 00:12:55,191 --> 00:12:57,302 Shadrack and Private Wilson's Gallant 271 00:12:57,302 --> 00:12:59,525 actions in close contact with the enemy 272 00:12:59,525 --> 00:13:01,358 were in keeping with the highest 273 00:13:01,358 --> 00:13:03,302 traditions of military service and 274 00:13:03,302 --> 00:13:05,302 reflect , reflect great credit upon 275 00:13:05,302 --> 00:13:07,413 themselves . The army of the Ohio and 276 00:13:07,413 --> 00:13:08,802 the United States Army . 277 00:14:00,250 --> 00:14:02,400 Ladies and gentlemen , please join me 278 00:14:02,409 --> 00:14:03,409 from benediction 279 00:14:11,299 --> 00:14:15,239 that Heavenly 280 00:14:15,250 --> 00:14:18,700 Father as we depart this ceremony , may 281 00:14:18,710 --> 00:14:20,979 the courage of these two young heroes 282 00:14:20,989 --> 00:14:24,789 be our example , may righteousness be 283 00:14:24,799 --> 00:14:28,130 our choice and may hope be our guiding 284 00:14:28,140 --> 00:14:30,989 light as we move with purpose in our 285 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,880 world , grant us grace . Oh Lord , to 286 00:14:34,890 --> 00:14:37,057 meet all the challenges that will come 287 00:14:37,059 --> 00:14:41,059 our way and impart unto us wisdom and 288 00:14:41,070 --> 00:14:44,739 the will to do justly to love mercy and 289 00:14:44,750 --> 00:14:47,690 to walk humbly before you all the days 290 00:14:47,700 --> 00:14:50,169 of our lives in your most holy name . 291 00:14:50,179 --> 00:14:52,130 We pray amen . 292 00:14:53,780 --> 00:14:56,002 Distinguished guests . Please remain in 293 00:14:56,002 --> 00:14:58,169 place as the president departs . Thank 294 00:14:58,169 --> 00:14:57,909 you . 295 00:15:19,450 --> 00:15:22,000 I ok , 296 00:15:38,530 --> 00:15:40,289 Mr President Mr President .