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The Vermont Patriots Medal
Vermont POW/MIA Day, Vermont Patriots Day,
The Vermont Patriots Medal was first presented on 21 September 1996
As Public Evidence of Deserved Honor and Distinction, Vermont Highest Honor.
Vermont POW/MIA Day, Vermont Patriots Day,
The Vermont Patriots Medal was first presented on 21 September 1996
As Public Evidence of Deserved Honor and Distinction, Vermont Highest Honor.
ONE CALL DOES IT ALL
THE VERMONT PATRIOTS MEDAL
IN 1966, DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF THE VIETNAM WAR, THE VERMONT STATE LEGISLATURE APPROVED JOINT RESOLUTION J.H.R. 42, WHICH AUTHORIZED THE "VERMONT PATRIOTS MEDAL" TO BE PRESENTED TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VERMONTERS WHO " FALL IN BATTLE". UNFORTUNATELY, THE PRESENTATION OF THE MEDAL WAS NOT FUNDED AT THE TIME. WITH THE "UNPOPULAR WAR" AND THE PASSAGE OF TIME, THE MEDAL WAS FORGOTTEN. THIS OVERSIGHT WAS RECTIFIED AND ON SEPTEMBER TWENTY FIRST 1996 THE MEDAL WAS PRESENTED.
JOINT RESOLUTION J.H.R. 42 NOTED THAT THE LEGISLATURE ALWAYS DESIRED TO SUITABLY RECOGNIZE VERMONTERS WHO FELL IN BATTLE AND THUS, AUTHORIZED, "THAT THE COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE VERMONT NATIONAL GUARD SHALL CAUSE TO BE STRUCK A SUITABLE MEDAL TO BE KNOWN AS THE "VERMONT PATRIOT'S MEDAL", THAT COPIES OF SUCH MEDALS TOGETHER WITH A SCROLL ACKNOWLEDGING VERMONT'S DEBT TO HER SERVICEMEN, BE PRESENTED TO THE NEXT OF KIN OF EACH VERMONTER WHOSE LIFE IS GIVEN IN AN ARMED CONFLICT SUCH AS THAT WHICH EXISTS TODAY IN SOUTH VIETNAM ".
THE MEDAL WAS PRESENTED IN A PADDED, VERMONT GREEN, LEATHERETTE, BI-FOLD PRESENTATION CASE WITH THE WORDS "VERMONT PATRIOTS MEDAL" IN GOLD LETTERS. INSIDE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE IS A SCROLL (CITATION), WHICH NOTES THAT THE MEDAL IS PRESENTED, "AS PUBLIC EVIDENCE OF DESERVED HONOR AND DISTINCTION" "TO THE FAMILY OF A VERMONT SERVICE PERSON, WHOSE LIFE WAS GIVEN IN ARMED CONFLICT". ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CASE THE MEDAL IS SET INSIDE A SHADOW BOX.
"THE MEDAL IS A CROSS OF WHITE ENAMEL WITH GOLD EDGES, WHICH IS A SYMBOL OF THE FIRST VERMONT REGIMENT AND DATES TO THE EARLIEST SYMBOLS USED BY VERMONT'S "GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS". COVERING THE CROSS IS A SHIELD DEPICTING A SCENE LOOKING EAST FROM LAKE CHAMPLAIN TO CAMEL'S HUMP AND THE GREEN MOUNTAINS UNDER A CLEAR SKY WITH THE HEAD OF A WHITE TAIL BUCK FROM THE VERMONT COAT OF ARMS. IT IS INLAID ENAMEL WITH GOLD EDGES. THE SHIELD IS SIMILAR TO THE INSIGNIA OF VERMONT'S HEROIC 172 INFANTRY 2ND BATTALION OF WW II".
"THE RIBBON CONSISTS OF A CENTER STRIPE OF PURPLE WITH WHITE EDGES REPRESENTING THE PURPLE HEART, AMERICA'S FIRST DECORATION, ALSO GIVEN FOR LOSS OF LIFE. ON EACH EACH SIDE OF THE WHITE STRIPES OF THE PURPLE HEART ARE GREEN, GOLD, AND BLUE STRIPES. THE GREEN AND BLUE BANDS REPRESENT THE GREEN MOUNTAINS AND THE LAKES AND STREAMS BENEATH A BLUE SKY. THE GOLD REPRESENTS THE THINGS OF HIGHEST VALUE IN THEIR HILLS AND VALLEYS, THE BRAVE AND CREATIVE PEOPLE OF VERMONT"
ATTACHED TO THE RIBBON IS A CLASP WHICH CONNECTS TO A STRAIGHT BAR HANGER THAT ATTACHES THE MEDAL TO THE RIBBON." THE CLASP, VERMONT 1764 PATRIOT, DENOTES THE NAME OF THE MEDAL AND THE YEAR THE REPUBLIC OF VERMONT FIRST CALLED HER CITIZENS TO ARMS. A GOLD STAR IS ALSO ATTACHED TO THE RIBBON, WHOSE SIGNIFICANCE IS TO REMEMBER, ESPECIALLY THE MOTHER OF THE VETERAN, (GOLD STAR MOTHERS)".
THE MEDAL WAS PRESENTED TO FAMILY MEMBERS ON SEPTEMBER 21, 1996 IN CONJUNCTION WITH POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY, THE 50th REUNION OF THE VT 172 INF 43RD DIVISION AND VERMONT PATRIOT'S DAY. 109+ VERMONTERS GAVE THEIR LIVES IN VIETNAM. 67 MEDALS WERE PRESENTED THAT DAY AND 5 LATER, EVERY EFFORT TO FIND THE FAMILIES WAS MADE, THERE WERE OVER 1200 PEOPLE GATHERED FOR THE EVENT.
A VERMONT VETERAN, WHO WISHED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, DESIGNED AND WROTE THE CITATION AND DESIGNED THE MEDAL, ON THE PROGRAM HE WAS QUOTED AS FOLLOWS: "I TRULY BELIEVE WE MUST HONOR TOGETHER THE ONES FROM WHOM EVEN THEIR LIFE WAS NEEDED SO THAT WE MIGHT CONTINUE. ALL THAT I CAN DO FOR THE FAMILIES IS TO ALWAYS REMEMBER, HONOR THE MEMORIES, AND OFFER THIS TOKEN WHICH WILL FOREVER REFLECT THE COST OF FREEDOM BORNE BY THOSE VERMONTERS WHO GAVE ALL." THE DESIGNER IS A AIR FORCE VERMONT VIETNAM VETERAN, WHOSE FAMILY HAS SERVED VERMONT AND THE NATION SINCE THE KING PHILIP WAR, BEFORE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
Attest: MG Donald E. Edwards 11/29/96 STATE OF VERMONT
BG Thomas O Donavan VERMONT NATIONAL GUARD
Chief Donald Finger
CSM Robert Delorme
James Howley
L. Leigh Sykes
IN 1966, DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF THE VIETNAM WAR, THE VERMONT STATE LEGISLATURE APPROVED JOINT RESOLUTION J.H.R. 42, WHICH AUTHORIZED THE "VERMONT PATRIOTS MEDAL" TO BE PRESENTED TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VERMONTERS WHO " FALL IN BATTLE". UNFORTUNATELY, THE PRESENTATION OF THE MEDAL WAS NOT FUNDED AT THE TIME. WITH THE "UNPOPULAR WAR" AND THE PASSAGE OF TIME, THE MEDAL WAS FORGOTTEN. THIS OVERSIGHT WAS RECTIFIED AND ON SEPTEMBER TWENTY FIRST 1996 THE MEDAL WAS PRESENTED.
JOINT RESOLUTION J.H.R. 42 NOTED THAT THE LEGISLATURE ALWAYS DESIRED TO SUITABLY RECOGNIZE VERMONTERS WHO FELL IN BATTLE AND THUS, AUTHORIZED, "THAT THE COMMANDING GENERAL OF THE VERMONT NATIONAL GUARD SHALL CAUSE TO BE STRUCK A SUITABLE MEDAL TO BE KNOWN AS THE "VERMONT PATRIOT'S MEDAL", THAT COPIES OF SUCH MEDALS TOGETHER WITH A SCROLL ACKNOWLEDGING VERMONT'S DEBT TO HER SERVICEMEN, BE PRESENTED TO THE NEXT OF KIN OF EACH VERMONTER WHOSE LIFE IS GIVEN IN AN ARMED CONFLICT SUCH AS THAT WHICH EXISTS TODAY IN SOUTH VIETNAM ".
THE MEDAL WAS PRESENTED IN A PADDED, VERMONT GREEN, LEATHERETTE, BI-FOLD PRESENTATION CASE WITH THE WORDS "VERMONT PATRIOTS MEDAL" IN GOLD LETTERS. INSIDE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE IS A SCROLL (CITATION), WHICH NOTES THAT THE MEDAL IS PRESENTED, "AS PUBLIC EVIDENCE OF DESERVED HONOR AND DISTINCTION" "TO THE FAMILY OF A VERMONT SERVICE PERSON, WHOSE LIFE WAS GIVEN IN ARMED CONFLICT". ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CASE THE MEDAL IS SET INSIDE A SHADOW BOX.
"THE MEDAL IS A CROSS OF WHITE ENAMEL WITH GOLD EDGES, WHICH IS A SYMBOL OF THE FIRST VERMONT REGIMENT AND DATES TO THE EARLIEST SYMBOLS USED BY VERMONT'S "GREEN MOUNTAIN BOYS". COVERING THE CROSS IS A SHIELD DEPICTING A SCENE LOOKING EAST FROM LAKE CHAMPLAIN TO CAMEL'S HUMP AND THE GREEN MOUNTAINS UNDER A CLEAR SKY WITH THE HEAD OF A WHITE TAIL BUCK FROM THE VERMONT COAT OF ARMS. IT IS INLAID ENAMEL WITH GOLD EDGES. THE SHIELD IS SIMILAR TO THE INSIGNIA OF VERMONT'S HEROIC 172 INFANTRY 2ND BATTALION OF WW II".
"THE RIBBON CONSISTS OF A CENTER STRIPE OF PURPLE WITH WHITE EDGES REPRESENTING THE PURPLE HEART, AMERICA'S FIRST DECORATION, ALSO GIVEN FOR LOSS OF LIFE. ON EACH EACH SIDE OF THE WHITE STRIPES OF THE PURPLE HEART ARE GREEN, GOLD, AND BLUE STRIPES. THE GREEN AND BLUE BANDS REPRESENT THE GREEN MOUNTAINS AND THE LAKES AND STREAMS BENEATH A BLUE SKY. THE GOLD REPRESENTS THE THINGS OF HIGHEST VALUE IN THEIR HILLS AND VALLEYS, THE BRAVE AND CREATIVE PEOPLE OF VERMONT"
ATTACHED TO THE RIBBON IS A CLASP WHICH CONNECTS TO A STRAIGHT BAR HANGER THAT ATTACHES THE MEDAL TO THE RIBBON." THE CLASP, VERMONT 1764 PATRIOT, DENOTES THE NAME OF THE MEDAL AND THE YEAR THE REPUBLIC OF VERMONT FIRST CALLED HER CITIZENS TO ARMS. A GOLD STAR IS ALSO ATTACHED TO THE RIBBON, WHOSE SIGNIFICANCE IS TO REMEMBER, ESPECIALLY THE MOTHER OF THE VETERAN, (GOLD STAR MOTHERS)".
THE MEDAL WAS PRESENTED TO FAMILY MEMBERS ON SEPTEMBER 21, 1996 IN CONJUNCTION WITH POW/MIA RECOGNITION DAY, THE 50th REUNION OF THE VT 172 INF 43RD DIVISION AND VERMONT PATRIOT'S DAY. 109+ VERMONTERS GAVE THEIR LIVES IN VIETNAM. 67 MEDALS WERE PRESENTED THAT DAY AND 5 LATER, EVERY EFFORT TO FIND THE FAMILIES WAS MADE, THERE WERE OVER 1200 PEOPLE GATHERED FOR THE EVENT.
A VERMONT VETERAN, WHO WISHED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, DESIGNED AND WROTE THE CITATION AND DESIGNED THE MEDAL, ON THE PROGRAM HE WAS QUOTED AS FOLLOWS: "I TRULY BELIEVE WE MUST HONOR TOGETHER THE ONES FROM WHOM EVEN THEIR LIFE WAS NEEDED SO THAT WE MIGHT CONTINUE. ALL THAT I CAN DO FOR THE FAMILIES IS TO ALWAYS REMEMBER, HONOR THE MEMORIES, AND OFFER THIS TOKEN WHICH WILL FOREVER REFLECT THE COST OF FREEDOM BORNE BY THOSE VERMONTERS WHO GAVE ALL." THE DESIGNER IS A AIR FORCE VERMONT VIETNAM VETERAN, WHOSE FAMILY HAS SERVED VERMONT AND THE NATION SINCE THE KING PHILIP WAR, BEFORE THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
Attest: MG Donald E. Edwards 11/29/96 STATE OF VERMONT
BG Thomas O Donavan VERMONT NATIONAL GUARD
Chief Donald Finger
CSM Robert Delorme
James Howley
L. Leigh Sykes
Design Description and meaning
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The Law J.R.H. 42