Fund Raising Event for the Medal Of Honor Row: Five Medal of Honor Recipients and Their Medals On Display for One Night Only

John Basilone

When I was in high school our Bridgewater-Raritan football stadium was called The John Basilone Memorial Field. I didn't know who John Basilone was, nor did I have a great curiosity to find out other than that he was probably a relative of the John Basilone who was in our Class of '70. I'm ashamed to say that it was three decades later that I learned from a co-worker here in Minnesota what a hero he had been.

Here's how Wikipedia describes him:
John Basilone was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant who was killed in action during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for heroism above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle for Henderson Field in the Guadalcanal Campaign, and the Navy Cross posthumously for extraordinary heroism during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was the only enlisted Marine to receive both of these decorations in World War II.

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It's amazing how little we know about the people who walk and live among us.

This coming month, the St. Louis County Historical Society and its Veterans Memorial Hall program have invited the public to  their 15th Annual Veterans Remembrance Dinner. The event will be Friday, November 15 with its theme, "Such Good Men…Forged Under Fire."

The keynote speaker that evening is Four-Star General Richard "Butch" Neal, USMC (Ret.), who will present a tribute to area Medal of Honor recipients whose leadership lessons have been demonstrated through acts of valor. These five are Oscar F. Nelson, Donald E. Rudolph, Michael Colalillo, Henry A. Courtney, Jr., and Dale E. Wayrynen. Their Medals of Honor will be displayed for the evening together here at the Depot in Duluth for the first time and for one night only.

Details of the dinner can be found here. Proceeds from the event will help support the Veterans Memorial Hall Program of the St. Louis County Historical Society. As part of the dinner festivities, local artist Tim Cortes will unveil his original artwork honoring the five recipients, and the Mike Colalillo Scholarship will be awarded.

Tickets are $35.00 and may be purchased at the office of Veterans Memorial Hall at the St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center (the Depot), or be reserved by calling 218-733-7586.

Preceding the dinner, General Neal will teach on the subject of "Lessons in Leadership: Forged Under Fire" from 2-4 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Depot Theater at the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center, 506 W. Michigan St. It's co-hosted by the Northland Human Resources Association and Veterans Memorial Hall, which is a program of the St. Louis County Historical Society, the latter said in a news release. (It's only $15 and you can register here.)

Neal was promoted to assistant commandant of the Marine Corps shortly before his retirement in 1998. Since retiring, he has been a senior fellow for the National Defense University. His seminar is based on the contents of his book, "What Now, Lieutenant?: Leadership Forged From Events in Vietnam, Desert Storm and Beyond."

Here's more info about the day's events:

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Related Links
Register for the Seminar
Dinner Reservations Here
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