Documentary Premiere Scheduled for March 24, Revealing Examination of Park University's Valor Medals
The Valor Medals Review Project, an initiative by Park University's George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War, is set to premiere a documentary titled "More Than a Medal" on Thursday, March 24, at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Mo., at 6:30 p.m.
The documentary, which is 25 minutes long, interweaves the efforts of researchers, heroic stories, and the experiences of modern-day descendants. It aims to address historical injustices in military honors awarded during World War I by identifying minority World War I veterans who may have been unjustly denied high-level valor awards due to racial or religious discrimination.
Native Americans are included in this review as their World War I service predates the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. To date, researchers have identified 214 servicemembers, including 105 Jewish Americans, 73 African Americans, 23 Native Americans, 12 Hispanic Americans, and one Asian American, who have qualified for review.
The systematic review will focus on veterans who are African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, Jewish American, or Native American and who received a Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross and/or the French Croix de Guerre with Palm and/or were recommended for a Medal of Honor.
The event will open with remarks from the producers/directors of the film, Alex Goldstein and Clark Slater, as well as Park University's Tim Westcott and Nathan Marticke. A question-and-answer session with Goldstein, Slater, and Westcott will follow the premiere of the documentary.
Admission to the event is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. More information about Park University's Valor Medals Review Project can be found at gsr.our website/valor-medals-review-project. Reservations can be made by visiting https://my.theworldwar.org/10720/10721 or via e-mail at gsrcentre@our website.
In April 2019, bipartisan bills (H.R.2249 and S.1218) were introduced in Congress, with Park University being the driving force behind these bills. These bills require the Department of Defense to carry out a systematic review of select World War I veterans who may have been denied the Medal of Honor due to race. The legislation coincides with Medal of Honor Day, a U.S. federal observance, which will be celebrated the day following the documentary premiere on Friday, March 25.
A two-plus minute trailer of the film can be watched at youtube.com/watch?v=JU7apyz9FnA. Since 1941, no review has occurred for World War I veterans regarding the equitable recognition of minority veterans in the awarding of valor medals. The Valor Medals Review Project, which began in September 2018, aims to collect and review archival records, genealogical and descendant outreach, and provide recommendations for the U.S. Congress and the Department of Defense.
- In addition to the comprehensive investigation on military honors awarded during World War I, the Valor Medals Review Project is also delving into home-and-garden aspects of minority World War I veterans' lives, with the aim of understanding their lifestyles and experiences better.
- As advocates for raising awareness about the systemic injustices in World War I valor medal awards, the Valor Medals Review Project team presents documentation not only on heroic stories but also on the home-and-garden landscapes, offering a holistic view of the lives of these honorably served individuals.
