Columbia, Ky. -- Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer, a native of Columbia, Ky., was presented a Medal of Honor Tribute at Lindsey Wilson College Oct. 28.
Richard Powers, creator of the tribute and retired sergeant first class, along with Gunnery Sgt. Allen Rosenblatt, staff noncommissioned officer in charge of Recruiting Sub-station Elizabethtown, and Staff Sgt. John Allison, an RSS Elizabethtown canvasing recruiter, presented the tribute to Meyer in his hometown.
The tribute is designed as an instructional and an inspirational piece that will remain on display in the school. It has a wooden base with a glass cover housing a display bust with the ribbon from a Medal of Honor. The medal portion of the award is etched into the glass cover and appears to float over the ribbon when viewed from the front. It has the recipient’s citation etched on one side of the glass and an image of him on the other side.
“This is a great way to showcase the actions of one of our nation’s heroes and to teach students about the military,” said Rosenblatt. “Military history isn’t always something that a lot of students are taught, so it’s always good to see things like these tributes out in the community.”
Powers has created several other tributes for Medal of Honor recipients including his first one for Jacklyn Harold Lucas, a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions on Iwo Jima in 1945.
Powers began making the tributes several years ago when he received the ribbon portion of Lucas’ Medal of Honor. Wanting to display it properly, he created the first of many tributes; all created with permission and approval from living Medal of Honor recipients to be displayed in their honor.
The tributes go on assignment to various locations where they can be used as a teaching aid and an inspiration to young people to learn about the medal and the history surrounding it, said Powers.
The tribute for Lucas is currently located at the Central Hardin High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps classroom in Elizabethtown, Ky. It has previously been displayed at the American Legion in Elizabethtown, Ky., North Hardin High School in Radcliff, and at Fort Knox High School.