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The Center for American Values In Pueblo, Colorado
The Center for American Values in Pueblo, CO
By Kenneth Riege USAF Veteran
In each of my stories I have ended them with a quote from one of our nations Medal of Honor Recipients. These quotes have come from a book called, “Medal of Honor Quotes, Inspiration from American’s Military Heroes.” This book was published by the Center for American Values in Pueblo, CO. This story is about the Center and what they have done to inspire and keep the legacy of our nations MOH Recipients alive and well.
The CAV (as it is referred to) was established in 2010 and is located in beautiful Pueblo, CO.
Pueblo is known as the “Home of Heroes.” More Medal of Honor Recipients have come from Pueblo (based upon its population) than any other town.
Here are the names of these great heroes:
William J. Crawford US Army, WW2 (there will be a side story on Mr. Crawford later), Carl L. Sitter and Raymond G. Murphy, USMC, Korea and Drew Dix, US Army, Vietnam.
President Eisenhower once remarked, after bestowing the Medal of Honor to Raymond G. Murphy, “What’s in the water out there in Pueblo, all you guys turn out to be heroes.
William Crawford, was a quiet, humble man who after retiring from the United States Army went on to work as a janitor at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Mr. Crawford was described as an “unimpressive figure, one you could easily overlook during a hectic day at the Academy. Mr. Crawford, being shy and unassuming was just fine with that and did his job and did it well.
One day a cadet by the name of James Moschgat, was reading a book about WW2 and the tough ground campaign in Italy. He came across an incredible
Here is a picture of the Center for American Values in Pueblo. CO. One thing they do that is so amazing is when there is a Medal of Honor Recipient there, the center will place American Flags all around the top of the building.
These statues of the 4 MOH Recipients are in front of the Pueblo Convention Center.
story of a Private William Crawford who was presumed KIA (Killed In Action) and who’s father received the MOH for his son. Unknown to his family and to the US Army, Pvt. Crawford had been captured by German Soldiers and held as a POW for 19 months until the war ended. There was a picture that bore a very striking resemblance to Mr. Crawford. When Cadet Moschgat shared this with his fellow cadet’s they decided to ask Mr. Crawford if that was him and he simply replied, “Yes, that’s me.” When the cadets had asked him why he didn’t talk about it, Mr. Crawford said, “Well that was just one day in my life that happened a long time ago.” It didn’t take long for this story to spread across the AF Academy Campus, and everyone formed a new respect for this quiet, unassuming janitor that as all MOH Recipients put it, “They were simply doing their duty as best they could.” While working at the Air Force Academy, Mr. Crawford
Here is a photo I had taken when I traveled with Hershey over the 4th of July for their events. You can see the American Flags atop the building as Vietnam MOH Recipient Mr. Pete Lemon waves to Hershey and I. Pete is the one in the blue shirt with both arms waiving.
had mentioned that he never had a formal ceremony for his Medal of Honor and had hoped that someday that might happen. Well in 1984 the cadets at the Air Force Academy had notified then President Ronald Reagan about Mr. Crawford’s wish and sure enough President Reagan formally awarded retired US Army Master Sergeant William Crawford with the Medal of Honor during their graduation ceremony.
