By DELANIA TRIGG, City Editor
Gainesville Daily Register
Gainesville —
Of all the proclamations the City of Gainesville has created to recognize various organizations over the years, Mayor Glenn Loch said he was surprised when he realized the city never officially recognized the organization for which it is perhaps best known — the Medal of Honor Host City program.
The city recently enacted a Medal of Honor Host City proclamation and Loch read and signed the document during Tuesday night’s Chamber of Commerce mixer.
The event also gave guests a chance to look at new display cases in the Gainesville Civic Center lobby. The cases contain memorabilia donated by Medal of Honor recipients who have visited the city since the program was established in the spring of 2001.
Speakers for the event included MOH president Mike McHorse, Chamber President Tim Fogle and Don Pettigrew, a Marine and MOH charter member.
Guests also watched a screening of a short Medal of Honor film which highlights key aspects of the medal of Honor program.
The MOH program was approved by then-Mayor Kenneth Kaden and the Gainesville City Council.
It is the only program of its kind in the nation.
Each April, the MOH program provides round trip airfare for Medal of Honor recipients and a $250 a day stipend for each recipient during four days of MOH activities.
The trip is a whirlwind visit which includes a banquet, a parade, appearances by the recipients and visits to local schools.
Since 2001, more than 20 Medal of Honor recipients have spoken to at least 10,000 students about their experiences.
“Once again, we get to showcase the uniqueness of our community,” Pettigrew said at the conclusion of the film.
He noted that when the program began there were more than 150 living recipients.
“There are now 87 (living) recipients in the Congressional Medal of Honor program,” he said.
Pettigrew also encouraged residents who are interested in joining the MOH society or who would like to work as volunteers in any of the organization’s activities to take a look at available jobs and requirements for the positions. Information about joining the MOH program was available at Tuesday’s event.
He also reminded guests that the MOH program is a non-profit organization.
“No city money goes into the Medal of Honor program,” he said.
McHorse said officials are already planning next year’s Medal of Honor activities and “anticipating more recipients than ever in 2011.”
On a somber note, Gary Alexander, a Marine Corps veteran and a spokesman for the MOH program, spoke briefly about his friend David McNerney, a Medal of Honor recipient who has been a frequent visitor to Gainesville. McNerney had planned to be at Tuesday’s mixer, but poor health prevented him from making the trip to Gainesville, Alexander said. McNerney is battling cancer, he added.
McNerney retired from the Army in 1969 while still a first sergeant.
A documentary, “Honor in the Valley of Tears,” which tells the story of McNerney's company in Vietnam and details his Medal of Honor action, premiered in May 2010. The film was co-written by the son of one of McNerney's soldiers.
Along with other guests, several veterans groups were at the event.
David Johnson, a former Gainesville resident and a chaplain for the Vietnam Veterans of American, Chapter 973 said his group attended the event to show their support for MOH recipients and for all veterans.
O.H. Hubbard, another VVA Chapter 973 member, said both he and Johnson have volunteered at the Veterans Administration hospital facility in Bonham for 20 years.
Hubbard is also Junior Vice Commander for his chapter of the Disabled American Veterans.
He said veterans organizations could use more support.
“I wish more people would volunteer,” Hubbard said.
