Stars and Stripes to Host Silver Rose Ceremony

Medal of Honor Room to be Dedicated
by Corey Noles - Statesman Staff Writer

The Stars and Stripes Museum/Library in Bloomfield, Mo will once again be host to the Silver Rose award ceremony. The ceremony will take place as part of its Founder's Day festivities on Nov. 11, two days after the 145th anniversary of the first printing of the Stars & Stripes military newspaper.

The day will include Civil War reenactors and the dedication of the museum's Medal of Honor Room.  The dedication of the Medal of Honor Room will take place at 2 p.m. It will be followed at 3 p.m. by the Order of the Silver Rose presentation ceremony.  The order of the Silver Rose was started in 1996 in an effort to honor those soldiers who were exposed  to Agent Orange. The father of founder Mary Elizabeth Davis Marchand died from lung cancer stemming from his exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

Sue Tippen received the first Silver Rose presented in Stoddard County this past July. Her husband, Army Sgt. Gary E. Tippen, passed away in 1986 due to multiple myeloma caused by his exposure - he was 41 years old.   While these soldiers, as of 1991, are eligible for medical benefits they are not awarded Purple Hearts because the federal government has not recognized Agent Orange as a Vietnam weapon. 

The July ceremony at the museum presented awards to 13 veterans. So far more than 20 people will be receiving the award at the  November ceremony.  With the Medal of Honor room dedication scheduled for the same day, museum workers have been working hard to get the room ready.  

Currently, the room honors four area Medal of Honor recipients.  Marine Sgt. Darrell Cole of Flat River earned his medal on Iowa Jima, Cole was a member of the 23rd Marines of the 4th Marine Div.  Cole was killed when an enemy grenade landed  at his feet while on a one-man mission to silence Japanese gunfire.   The U.S.S. Cole, a Naval destroyer bombed on Oct. 12, 2000, in a Yemeni port, was named in his honor. 

Army PFC. Richard G. Wilson of Cape Girardeau was awarded his medal for his gallant action in Korea in 1950. Wilson helped administer aid to the wounded, oblivious to the danger he faced. He continued helping the wounded even after his commander ordered a withdrawal. His body was found two days later.

Army Pvt. Billie G. Kanell of Poplar Bluff received his medal for his actions in Korea.  Kanell threw himself on top of a grenade to protect two of his comrades.