Freedom Foundation honors Medal of Honor recipients

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. - May 20, 2012 (WPVI) -- It was awhile in coming, but military personnel who have been awarded the Medal of Honor had their names enshrined at Valley Forge Sunday afternoon.

It is a small gesture with a sizable meaning.

The names of 35 Medal of Honor recipients were added to the National Grove at the Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge.

The site, which honors our service members who have received the highest military decoration, had not been updated since the battle of Mogadishu in 1993.

Restoring the grove was a personal mission for organizer Missy Farkouh.

"My father is a Medal of Honor recipient, and I'm one of the blessed ones because mine came home. If you look at the statistics, Medal of Honor recipients don't come home," said Missy Farkouh; recipients like Ross McGinnis, a 19 year old Army Specialist who was killed by a grenade in Baghdad in 2006.

"It's an honor being here today, because Ross joined a small group of people that have shown when the time comes they can do the right thing," said Tom McGinnis, Ross' father.

Organizers say Sunday's salute to our heroes is also meant to remind us that we live in a free country, not only because of our military, but also our police officers, firefighters and volunteers who serve and protect us.

Young voices joined in the ceremony to show their support for veterans like retired Marine Major General James Everett Livingston, a Medal of Honor recipient for his service during Vietnam.

"It gives you an opportunity to reflect on the service and sacrifice of a lot of Americans," said Maj. Gen. James Everett Livingston. "They loved their country, went to war and sacrificed for their country."

A proud veteran and a proud father, Major General Livingston's daughter organized the event to keep the memory of America's heroes alive.

"These parents, family members gave up the ultimate sacrifice; they gave up their loved ones, and we are going to make the Medal of Honor Grove complete," said Missy.

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