Arlington preserves legacy of Medal of Honor recipients

The International Room at Arlington Park typically plays hosts to groups enjoying an afternoon of live horse racing, with its floor to ceiling windows, overlooking the grandstand and finish line.

On Saturday night, however, the room welcomed some rare dignitaries: 32 of the nation's living Congressional Medal of Honor winners.

For the second straight year, Arlington Park Chairman Richard Duchossois and President Roy Arnold - both veterans themselves - hosted the event as a fundraiser for Medal of Honor Foundation.

During the day, track officials paused between the fourth and fifth races to recognize the recipients with a formal flag ceremony, led by a Marine Air Control Group.

More than 200 guests gathered outdoors in the paddock area for an opening reception, before heading up to the fourth floor International Room for the dinner, where Channel 5 news anchor Bob Sirott served as master of ceremonies.

The South Carolina-based Medal of Honor foundation aims to educate the public about the medal, and its ideals of courage, selfless sacrifice, and patriotism, as well as the American war heroes who have received it.

Funds raised from the event will help the foundation with its goal of putting books about the Medal of Honor and its recipients, into every library in the country. They also plan to place more touch screen kiosks at museums, libraries and other public buildings.

Arnold said that while the foundation has a major presence in New York, boosted by its annual Circle of Honor dinner at the New York Stock Exchange, its visibility in the Chicago area is just beginning to grow.

"We're happy to do anything we can do to preserve the legacy of these recipients," Arnold said, "and record and preserve their stories for future generations."

Toward that end, the group of winners spread out in small groups on Friday to meet with high school teens to share their stories.

A group met with members of the Boys and Girls Club, in Chicago, while Vietnam veterans Bruce Crandall of Olympia, Wash., met with the Prospect High School football team, and Tom Kelley of Boston met with St. Viator High School summer school students.

Both said they enjoy the chance to get together with young people wherever they go, to promote the ideals of service and moral courage.

"But I also remind them that it's young men and women just about their age," Kelley said, "who are taking care of our country, and putting themselves in harm's way."