Above and Beyond the Legacy of the Medal of Honor, July 3, 2026 6:00PM

Item details

Date

July 3, 2026 6:00PM

Name

Above and Beyond the Legacy of the Medal of Honor

Description

The Kinsley Theater | Doors Open at 6 p.m. | Free Tickets Required in Advance

 

July 3:  Jessica Loring, Maranda Wilkinson, Dwight W. Birdwell – Moderated by NPS Ranger Dan Vermilya – Above and Beyond: The Legacy of the Medal of Honor

 

“Above and Beyond: The Legacy of the Medal of Honor” brings together powerful voices connected to America’s highest military decoration for valor in a compelling discussion on courage, sacrifice, memory, and legacy. Hosted by National Park Service Ranger Dan Vermilya as part of the Sacred Trust Lecture, this special panel features Jessica Loring, Maranda Wilkinson, and Dwight W. Birdwell. Spanning generations from the battlefields of Gettysburg to the Vietnam War, the discussion will explore the enduring meaning of the Medal of Honor, the human stories behind acts of extraordinary heroism, and how these legacies continue to shape our understanding of service, citizenship, and national memory. 

 

Jessica Loring is a retired attorney and an author. She is Medal of Honor recipient Lieutenant Alonzo H. Cushing's first cousin, three generations removed. While going through her parents’ files, she found a long letter from Alonzo to his aunt—her great-great grandmother—Margaret Smith Loring, in which he described taking command of Fourth U.S. Artillery, Battery A, before the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. Excited by this discovery, Jessica located McClurg Museum home of the Chautauqua County Historical Society in Westfield, New York, that had a large cache of Cushing family letters. She established that her aunt Helen Loring Ensign was Alonzo’s closest living relative and therefore entitled to receive his Medal of Honor. The Loring family donated Alonzo’s Medal of Honor to the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center, along with his letter to aunt Margaret Smith Loring. She spoke at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes at Alonzo H. Cushing's induction ceremony on Nov. 4, 2014. Jessica wrote a book to put Lon’s life in perspective with his time and place in history.

 

Maranda Wilkinson serves as Director of Education for the Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she leads innovative educational initiatives focused on the stories, values, and legacy of the nation’s Medal of Honor recipients. With a background as a curriculum specialist, instructional coach, and social studies educator, Wilkinson has dedicated her career to developing engaging, place-based learning experiences that connect audiences to history through themes of courage, sacrifice, leadership, and citizenship. She previously worked with the Korean War Legacy Foundation on national teacher fellowship programs and educational outreach initiatives, and she is currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership. Through her work at the Heritage Center, Wilkinson has helped expand nationally recognized programming that inspires students, educators, and visitors to reflect on the enduring character values embodied by Medal of Honor recipients. 

 

Dwight W. Birdwell is a distinguished veteran, civic leader, and recipient of the Medal of Honor whose extraordinary heroism during the Tet Offensive at Tan Son Nhut Air Base earned him the nation’s highest military honor. Serving with Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War, Birdwell repeatedly exposed himself to intense enemy fire to rescue wounded comrades, rally soldiers under attack, and help repel a vastly superior enemy force during one of the war’s most pivotal moments. A proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation and longtime public servant, Birdwell has dedicated his postwar life to leadership, advocacy, and preserving the stories of those who served. His participation in this year’s Sacred Trust panel discussion brings a powerful firsthand perspective on courage, sacrifice, and the enduring legacy of military service. 

 

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