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| Michael Crescenz Memorial |
Published: 02/09/2009 Author: Chris Hill
Posted On: February 9, 2009 at 9:43 AM By: |
Michael Crescenz Memorial
 
Late last week I had the incredible honor of participating in a
ceremony commemorating the sacrifice of Cpl. Michael Crescenz, Medal
of Honor recipient. A mural and memorial for Michael was unveiled
that completely honors his sacrifice, while at the same time tying
together all of us whom have served. The mural was painted by two 17
year old high school art students as a service project. They knew
nothing of Michael or even the significance of the Medal of Honor when
they started the project. By the time they had completed it they were
rightfully awed by Michael's story. At 19, he was not much older than
them when he disregarded safety and security to save the lives of his
brothers. These two teenagers also got a new understanding of what
connects all of us whom have ever served. They now understand how
wearing the uniform extends back in an unbroken line to the earliest
days of the United States.
As I carried the Medal of Honor into a packed room of American Legion
Post 129, I could not help but think of the actions that brought about
the poem that would eventually become my favorite song, the National
Anthem, and how that relates to Cpl. Michael Crescenz. We have all
heard of the attack on Fort McHenry, which began on September 13,
1814. Aboard a British ship, Francis Scott Key watched the battle. The
British were using a new type of military bombshell that exploded into
deadly fragments. Traveling 2½ miles, those "rockets" produced red
streaks in the night sky.
To the utter shock of the British, Ft. McHenry held on through the
night. Key could see its fifteen-star flag as the rockets lit up the
sky. It was a huge flag, measuring thirty by forty-two feet. Major
Armistead, the fort's commanding officer, had ordered it that way so
the "British would not have trouble seeing it from a distance." For
twenty-five hours the British mercilessly bombarded the fort. Major
Armistead had refused to surrender the fort or take down the flag. At
dawn's first light, Francis Scott Key saw the huge flag. It was still
flying over Ft. McHenry and Baltimore was saved.
Why that flag was still flying though, is not commonly known. During
the night a British shell had struck the flag pole. American soldiers
recognized that the flag must continue to fly and had rushed to the
pole and physically held it aloft. As the British shells rained in,
many of these brave men were killed or wounded, but as soon as one
fell, he was replaced by another. The Americans inside Ft. McHenry
knew that when the dawn came, our flag had to be flying. They knew
that their sacrifice was for the greater good, so they died for their
country. Around the base of the flag were numerous bodies of American soldiers and citizens.
154 years later, nearly to the day, a 19 year old Army Cpl named
Michael Crescenz found himself pinned down by a large, well-entrenched
force of the North Vietnamese Army. We have all seen his citation.
We have all read how he disregarded his own safety and silenced 3
machine gun emplacements before being killed by a fourth. He
personally saved the lives of scores of men. For his bravery and
extraordinary heroism he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
The Medal of Honor is awarded for actions that require such courage
that no one could rightfully be expected to undertake them. No one
would have faulted Michael for remaining under cover that day, but he
knew what those early patriots from the War of 1812 knew. He knew
that some things are bigger than us. Some things are worthy of
sacrificing all. "Sometimes," as Winston Churchill said, "it is not
enough to do your best. Sometimes, you must do what is required."
I doubt Michael considered any of those things as he charged up that
hill. I believe he just realized that he must do what was required.
Had he survived, I would bet that Michael would say what I have heard
other Medal of Honor recipients say. They all say "you would have
done the same." I would like to think so, but cannot know for
certain. What I can say for certain, is that Michael deserves to be
remembered and honored for his deeds. Michael's sacrifice makes us
all stand a little taller. What American Legion Post 129 has done,
honoring him, is a wonderful thing and I was so honored and so moved
to be a part of it. Thank you Crescenz family and Post 129 for
letting me as a light infantryman, honor another, and thank you
Michael, my brother in arms, for doing what was required. Manchu.
(more pictures) |
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| Posted on February 9, 2009 at 9:43 AM by
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