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- Read their Stories;
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A Mark Of Their
Honor
Medal recipients
help raise funds for their fellows.
-
Philadelphia
Inquirer – Feb 2, 2011
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The Medal of
Honor citation for Harvey C. Barnum Jr. describes a young
Marine lieutenant in Vietnam on Dec. 18, 1965, as he “ moved
fearlessly through enemy fire” and took actions “with
complete disregard for his own safety.”
MICHAEL BRYANT /
Staff Photographer
Retired Marine Col.
Harvey C. “Barney” Barnum Jr. (right), a Medal of Honor recipient
who served in Vietnam, fixes a drink at the Irish Pub at 1123 Walnut
St., as another medal recipient, retired Navy SEAL Lt. Tom Norris,
chats with a customer.
“His sound and swift
decisions and his obvious calm served to stabilize the badly
decimated units and his gallant example as he stood exposed
repeatedly to point out targets served as an inspiration to all,”
the citation reads.
On Tuesday evening,
“Barney” Barnum was asked to serve again — this time from behind the
bar at the Irish Pub’s two Walnut Street locations in Center City.
He was joined by
four other Medal of Honor recipients cheerfully tending bar and
signing autographs to help raise money for the Marine Corps-Law
Enforcement Foundation and the Travis Manion Foundation, named for a
Bucks County native killed in Iraq in 2007.
Five Medal of Honor
recipients in one place was too much to resist for Derik “Hollywood”
Parsons, 34, a member of the Delaware chapter of the Nam Knights
Motorcycle Club.
At the Irish Pub at
1123 Walnut St., Parsons bought a special large hardcover book that
features profiles of many living medal recipients, and then got all
five at the tavern to sign his book.
“It’s pretty
awesome,” said Parsons, who served in the Marines from 1994 through
1998.
Desiree Fiorentino,
23, an Irish Pub waitress, had Barnum sign a card for her.
“Oh, my God, they’re
all characters,” she said.
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Delaware Valley
Nam Knight members attended the "Proud to Serve" charity fundraiser
on Tuesday, Feb 1st.
- Medal of Honor Recipients
Public Service Campaign
- As part of their commitment
to serve their country, these Medal of Honor recipients have
joined in a public service campaign designed to help stem
the rising tide of suicides among military service members
today.
These recipients, who have survived some of the most
harrowing experiences in combat, including years as POWs,
physical wounds and emotional trauma, felt compelled to
speak out to America's military, share their experiences and
encourage them to seek help for behavioral health issues
that are often a result of deployment and combat. Their
message is simple: Don't let the enemy defeat you at home!
In their own words,
Medal of Honor recipients encourage America’s military by reminding
them that seeking care is indeed a courageous act. One that shows
they recognize the need to stay strong in mind and body.
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society was chartered by Congress
in 1958 to establish a brotherhood among the living Medal of Honor
recipients, to protect and uphold the dignity and honor of the
Medal, to promote patriotism and love of country, and to inspire and
stimulate our youth to become worthy, dedicated citizens of our
nation. Its membership consists exclusively of those individuals who
have received the Medal of Honor. |
|
Like when a group of
waitresses was asked to pose for a photo and the 70-year-old Barnum
dived to the ground to also pose while lying at their feet.
“It’s great,”
Fiorentino said, “but they’re all humble, too.”
It was the second
year at the Irish Pub for “Proud to Serve,” which was first
organized by two retired Navy SEALS, Tony Sánchez and Jeff Webb.
Last year, it was
held only at the 2007 Walnut St. location and featured retired Navy
SEAL Lt. Mike Thornton, a 1973 Medal of Honor recipient.
On Tuesday, it was
expanded to include the other Irish Pub on Walnut and featured
Thornton, Barnum, who retired as a colonel from the Marines, retired
Army Sgt. Maj. Jon Cavaiani, former Army Lt. Brian Thacker, and
retired Navy SEAL Lt. Tom Norris.
Thornton received
his medal for saving Norris’ life in Vietnam. Norris later received
his medal for a separate act of heroism.
“It’s an honor just
to be around these people,” said Cathy Burke, co-owner of the Irish
Pub restaurants.
The Marine Corps-Law
Enforcement Foundation provides financial aid to the children of
Marines, as well as federal and military law enforcement officers,
killed in the line of duty.
The Travis Manion
Foundation benefits wounded veterans.
When the medal recipients departed the
first Irish Pub, they boarded a Philadelphia Police Highway Patrol
van and cruiser and an unmarked police sedan, which gave the men a
fitting lights-and-siren motorcade up Walnut Street |
