In The News
Bessemer Academy Visits Center
The Center hosted a field trip for 32 Bessemer Academy 2nd Grade students on Tuesday, March 19th. Students visited the Center where they learned about and participated in activities around Everyday Heroes. At the conclusion of the class, students experienced the Walk of Valor and the Center Event Coordinator, Tanya Quintana, shared history of the students' hometown, the Pueblo Home of Heroes.
Rest in Peace
RALPH PUCKETT, JR.
Retired Colonel Ralph Puckett, Jr., the last living Korean War Medal of Honor Recipient, passed away on April 8, 2024, in Columbus, Georgia, at the age of 97. Born on December 8, 1926, US Army Colonel Puckett enlisted at age 17 in the Army Enlisted Reserve Corps. A few years later, he was discharged to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. After graduation in 1949, he was asked to command a newly activated Rangers company that had not been active since World War II, then was deployed to Korea. Colonel Puckett received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Unsan in North Korea in 1950. Outnumbered 10 to 1, First Lt. Ralph Puckett Jr. led his Rangers company in an attack on Hill 205. His extraordinary valor and leadership allowed the Rangers to locate and destroy enemy positions and seize the hill. President Joseph Biden Jr. presented Puckett with the Medal of Honor at the White House on May 21, 2021, an upgrade from his first of two Distinguished Service Crosses. Puckett also served in the Vietnam War, retiring as a Colonel following a 22-year career. He was awarded two Silver Stars in Vietnam and earned five Purple Hearts across the two wars, as well as two Bronze Stars with "V" device for valor. He remained an important figure among U.S. Army Rangers and served as an "Honorary Colonel".
- RANK: FIRST LIEUTENANT (HIGHEST RANK: COLONEL)
- CONFLICT/ERA: KOREAN WAR
- UNIT/COMMAND:
8TH RANGER COMPANY, 8213TH ARMY UNIT, 8TH U.S. ARMY - MILITARY SERVICE BRANCH: U.S. ARMY
- MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION DATE: NOVEMBER 25 - 26, 1950
- MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION PLACE: HILL 205, VICINITY OF UNSAN, KOREA
CITATION: GO TO WWW.CMOHS.ORG/RECIPIENTS/RALPH-PUCKETT-JR
Teachers Encouraged to Schedule Educational Field Trip
St. Therese Catholic School's 4th and 5th Grade Students visited the Center for American Values on March 7th. The students learned about the United States’ highest military award for valor, the Medal of Honor, and the heroes awarded. At the conclusion of class, students were asked to write a paper on their personal “Hero," select a Medal of Honor Recipient to research and report on, and then experienced the Walk of Valor and a visit to Veterans Bridge.
Young Life students from Azusa Pacific University
Young Life students on spring break from Azusa Pacific University, a private evangelical research university in Azusa, California, assisted and worked at various service project sites across the Pueblo Community this past week. The group concluded their week with a visit to the Center for American Values to acquaint themselves with the Center, the Medal of Honor, and view the “Portraits of Valor” and recipient quotes in the Gallery. The students noted the quote that best reflected their work was Medal of Honor Recipient Master Sergeant Leroy Petry’s quote, “Do something today to better others and yourself.”
CAV In Full Swing With HIP Civics-Based Ed Classes
We hosted 47 Villa Bella Expeditionary Elementary School 4th Grade Students on Tuesday, March 5th. Jennifer Prescia, CAV Educational Assistant, led an in-person Medal of Honor Class and students walked the "Walk of Valor" and enjoyed the Pueblo Four Medal of Honor Recipient statues located in the Medal of Honor Plaza at the Pueblo Convention Center.
CAV Provided HIP Ed Class & Tour for Beulah Heights Elementary Students
We hosted 33 Beulah Heights 4th Grade Students on Thursday, February 15. Lis Richard, Education Development Director, led an in-person Medal of Honor Class that included a student challenge to read and select their favorite Medal of Honor Recipient quote from the gallery of Portraits of Valor. After class, the students walked the “Walk of Valor” across Veterans Bridge along the Historic Pueblo Riverwalk.
Colorado State Charter School Conference
Pictured l to r: Henry Jones, CAV Board Member; Jennifer Prescia, CAV Education Assistant; Lis Richard, Education Development Director; and Dave Richard, CAV Volunteer.
The Center for American Values is in Denver visiting with teachers, education leaders, and parents at the Colorado State Charter School Conference while sharing information on their Civics-Based Education that emphasizes and inspires honor, integrity and patriotism in students.
Rest in Peace
LARRY L. TAYLOR
Former U.S. Army Captain Larry L. Taylor passed away at his home in Signal Mountain, Tennessee on January 28, 2024. Captain Taylor was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Joe Biden at the White House on September 5, 2023, for his heroic actions and conspicuous gallantry while serving as a helicopter pilot with Troop D (Air), 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 1st Infantry Division, during the Vietnam War in 1968.
- RANK: FIRST LIEUTENANT (HIGHEST RANK: CAPTAIN)
- CONFLICT/ERA: VIETNAM WAR
- UNIT/COMMAND:
1ST SQUADRON, 4TH U.S. CAVALRY, 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION - MILITARY SERVICE BRANCH: U.S. ARMY
- MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION DATE: JUNE 18, 1968
- MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION PLACE: NEAR THE VILLAGE OF AP GO CONG, BÌNH DƯƠNG PROVINCE, VIETNAM
CITATION: GO TO WWW.CMOHS.ORG/RECIPIENTS/LARRY-L-TAYLOR
Rest in Peace
ROGER H.C. DONLON
Retired Army Col. Roger H. C. Donlon, the first Recipient of the Medal of Honor for the Vietnam War, passed away January 25, 2024, in Leavenworth, Kansas, at the age of 89.
President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Donlon with the Medal of Honor on Dec. 5, 1964, for his actions near Nam Dong, the Republic of Vietnam, on July 6, 1964.
- RANK: CAPTAIN (HIGHEST RANK: COLONEL)
- CONFLICT/ERA: VIETNAM WAR
- UNIT/COMMAND:
DETACHMENT A-726, 7TH SPECIAL FORCES GROUP (AIRBORNE), 1ST SPECIAL FORCES - MILITARY SERVICE BRANCH: U.S. ARMY
- MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION DATE: JULY 6, 1964
- MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION PLACE: NEAR NAM DONG, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
CITATION: GO TO WWW.CMOHS.ORG/RECIPIENTS/ROGER-H-DONLON
Cherry Creek School District 11th Annual Awards Ceremony
Through a partnership with the Cherry Creek School District and the Center for American Values (CAV), the 11th Annual Awards Ceremony and Program was hosted at CAV recognizing 22 top K-12 students for their written compositions on their appreciation for Veterans and allegiance to America.
A surprise visit and presentation by Medal of Honor Recipient Drew Dix, highlighted the student's special day that concluded with a ceremony that recognized and awarded each composition winner. The CAV's lead Education Program Developer, Lis Richard, lead the event and provided a learning segment on the history of the Medal of Honor, the United States highest award for military valor in action.
JROTC from Pueblo County High School lead the Color Guard Presentation and local vocalist, Praxedes Quintana, sang the National Anthem. Special guests were CAV Board Member Henry Jones and Joan Annello.
We Salute Our Veterans
Greatest Generation Veteran Celebrates 100th Birthday!!
Bruce Elson, World War II Army Air Corps and Greatest Generation Veteran,
Celebrates 100th Birthday today, November 30, 2023.
We salute you and thank you for your service!
Jones Reports from Washington, D.C.
CAV Board Member Henry Jones, Vietnam Veteran Charles Smith, the Rocky Mountain Honor Flight Team, and other Veterans, concluded their Washington, D.C., trip on October 21st. They visited the Korean and Vietnam Memorials, gravesite of Audi Murphy (a medal of honor recipient, at Arlington National Cemetery), and the Marine Memorial.
Rest in Peace
Frank Aloysious Herda
- RANK: PRIVATE FIRST CLASS (HIGHEST RANK: SPECIALIST FOURTH CLASS)
- CONFLICT/ERA: VIETNAM WAR
- UNIT/COMMAND:
COMPANY A, 1ST BATTALION (AIRBORNE), 506TH INFANTRY,
101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION (AIRMOBILE) - MILITARY SERVICE BRANCH: U.S. ARMY
- MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION DATE: JUNE 29, 1968
- MEDAL OF HONOR ACTION PLACE: NEAR DAK TO, QUANG TRANG PROVINCE, REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM
- PRESENTATION DATE & DETAILS: MAY 14, 1970
THE WHITE HOUSE, PRESENTED BY PRES. RICHARD M. NIXON - BORN: SEPTEMBER 13, 1947, CLEVELAND, CUYAHOGA COUNTY, OH, UNITED STATES
- DIED: OCTOBER 13, 2023, CLEVELAND, OH, US