Annual Gala Night at Park University Supports Awarding of Valor Medals
The George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War at the University of Kansas is leading a significant initiative called the Valor Medals Review project. This project aims to reevaluate and potentially honour World War I veterans who were historically overlooked or unfairly denied valor awards due to racial or ethnic biases.
The focus of this project is on minority groups who served with distinction in World War I but were historically marginalized in official recognition. Researchers have identified over 200 individuals, including 70 African Americans, 203 Jewish Americans, 18 Native Americans, three Alaskan natives, and three Hispanic Americans, as recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross or the Croix de Guerre with Palm.
Park University, the host of this project, has been advocating for legislation that requires the Department of Defense to conduct a systematic review of minority veterans from World War I. This legislation was included in the National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law in December 2019.
To support this important cause, Park University is hosting the annual fundraising event, Night at the Helm, on June 10, 2020. The event will take place at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. The honorary chair for this year's event is Rosana Privitera Biondo, president of MarkOne Electric, while James Cornelius, president of institutional banking at UMB Bank and a member of Park's Board of Trustees, serves as the event chair.
Individual tickets for the event cost $250, and sponsorship levels are available starting at $1,000. The funds raised will benefit Park University's Valor Medals Review project. The evening includes a cocktail and hors d'oeuvres hour, followed by a program.
The Valor Medals Review project is being conducted in conjunction with the Valor Medals Review Task Force and the Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars. The goal of the Task Force is to provide a report and generate recommendations for Congress or the Department of Defense.
For more precise details or the latest updates on the project, it is recommended to consult official publications or announcements from the George S. Robb Centre itself. The Valor Medals Review project is a crucial step towards ensuring that the heroes of World War I receive the recognition they deserve, irrespective of their race or ethnicity.
The Valor Medals Review project, in collaboration with the Valor Medals Review Task Force and the Foundation for the Commemoration of the World Wars, is a significant venture dedicated to education-and-self-development, focusing on minority groups and their contributions during World War I. This initiative aims to provide a report and generate recommendations for Congress or the Department of Defense, thereby ensuring that the historically overlooked or unfairly denied valor awards to these heroes are reevaluated, potentially honoring them with the recognition they deserved.
