Brick honoring Medal of Honor recipient to be positioned throughout Veterans Day ceremony

KINGWOOD — Invoice Benson, a member of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 977, mentioned a brick honoring Emsire Shahan, shall be positioned within the Memorial Walkway previous to the dedication ceremony set for 11 a.m. Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

The dedication is a tribute to veterans, deceased navy and POWs. The general public is invited to attend.

Shahan, who was born and raised in Preston County, was one of many first Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. He was awarded the medal on Could 3, 1865, for actions carried out on the Battle of Sailor’s Creek in Virginia.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society (CMOHS), describes the Medal of Honor as “america’ highest award for navy valor in motion.”

“And whereas over 150 years have handed since its inception, the that means behind the Medal has by no means tarnished,” the society writes. “Etched inside are the very values that every recipient displayed within the moments that mattered — bravery, braveness, sacrifice, integrity. A deep love of nation and a need to at all times do what is true. It’s a distinguished award offered solely to the deserving.”

Shahan, also called Amaziah Shahan, was the son of Samuel and Rebecca Wolfe Shahan. He was born on Aug. 14, 1843, in Preston County, considered one of three siblings and three half-siblings. He married Rebecca Miller in 1864 and Melvina H. Knight in 1894, and fathered a complete of 9 kids, in line with Discover-A-Grave.

Shahan enlisted within the Military as a corporal on July 1, 1861, and was mustered into Firm A of the First West Virginia Cavalry. On April 6, 1885, on the Battle of Sailor’s (or Sayler’s) Creek, Shahan captured the flag of the Accomplice 76th Georgia Infantry.

The Battles of Sailor’s Creek (there have been three) have been fought on April 6, 1865, a part of the Appomattox Marketing campaign on the fourth day of Accomplice Gen. Robert E. Lee’s retreat from Petersburg through the American Civil Conflict.

In line with CMOHS.org, Shahan’s Medal of Honor Quotation reads: “The President of america of America, within the identify of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Cpl. Emisire Shahan, United States Military, for extraordinary heroism on 6 April 1865, whereas serving with Firm A, 1st West Virginia Cavalry, in motion at Deatonsville (Sailor’s Creek), Virginia, for the seize of the flag of the 76th Georgia Infantry (Accomplice States of America).”

Shahan is buried within the Masonic Cemetery, Elma, Grays Harbor County, Washington state, in Block 134, lot 4, in line with Discover-A-Grave.

Jim Savage, president of VVA Chapter 977, mentioned the cash positioned on the monument have been put there by different veterans, family and friends. He mentioned the cash let the deceased troopers’ households know anyone stopped by to pay their respects.

Savage mentioned a penny means you visited, a nickel means you and the deceased veteran skilled at boot camp collectively and a dime means you and the deceased veteran served collectively in some capability. The custom of leaving cash on the headstones of navy personnel dates again to the Roman Empire.