I’m trying to avoid being “triggered” by this story, but the medal is not even being displayed. Why not give it back?

For years, the Courtney family and the St. Louis County Historical Society have pleaded with the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge to return or briefly loan them the medal for the newly renovated museum’s Henry Courtney exhibit.

No, the foundation board told them.

One of Courtney’s sisters, worried that the medal would end up forgotten in an attic, donated it to the foundation back in the 1980s.

It’s their medal now.

http://www.startribune.com/min...-of-honor/504920972/

The article was written with the intent to trigger people to put pressure on the organization in Pennsylvania. It's one sided and based on a family's memory of what one member intended 30 years ago.

That being said, I think displaying the medal at the museum in the recipient's home town that actually has a section dedicated to the recipient would be a better use for the medal.

FE Warren base in Cheyenne has on display the Medal of Honor awarded to a person from Wyoming (the only one I believe). The only one I have seen in person and was able to view it.

PC

Aren’t there very specific rules about any transfer of a MoH? Perhaps the original was a violation of that and could be reversed.

If you really want the medal, you shouldn't have given it away.

Just sayin'.

quote:

Originally posted by Hound Dog:
If you really want the medal, you shouldn't have given it away.

Just sayin'.

Families have family dynamics. One family member may do what they feel is right/best. Other family members may disagree. Fun and games...

ETA: With 20:20 hindsight, it is obvious that the one family member should have spent some money with a lawyer, written up a contract and loaned the medal to the foundation for display. I wonder how many folks would have thought of that. Not sure I would have.

So basically, it's just in someone else's attic now.

Regardless, this is something very personal for them, and to have a confrontation over it is despicable at least to me.

Keep in mind that no one "wins" the Medal of Honor; it is awarded to you. Based on that I would think the D.O.D. would have some say.

Well, let me share my families MOH story.
My grand uncle , Francis C Flaherty’s MOH ended up in a museum in Frankenmuth,MI. My grandfather received the medal on behalf on Francis, and chose to donate it. After his death, my father and uncle inquired as to the ability to retrieve the medal from the museum. They begged us not to take it, and instead spoke with the congressman from their district. He was able to authorize 2 copies which were sent to my uncle and father as a gift from the museum. In return they get to keep his original medals. My father passed away and now the medal resides with me. The letter inside the case is the original and only FDR signed copy. Perhaps this family should contact their congressional rep to see what can be done. The article mentions that they already received a copy and its on display, and it was referred to as a “fake” MOH. If its a copy authorized by congress its no fake.

- update -

Medal is coming home:

Freedoms Foundation votes to send Medal of Honor back to Minnesota

Maj. Henry Courtney Jr.'s Medal of Honor is coming home to Duluth after long years in storage in a Pennsylvania vault.