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Confederate Daughters Present Southern Museum with Medals

KENNESAW, GA – A medal bestowed upon a Georgia bugler for his service to the Confederacy will soon be joined by its more modern counterparts at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, thanks to the generosity of the Alfred Holt Colquitt Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC).

A set of Crosses of Military Service and Medals was presented to the Museum, a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate, by the local Chapter of the UDC on Saturday, December 13.

Museum Curator George Deeming, who accepted the set, is looking forward to adding them to a UDC Southern Cross of Honor already held by the Museum. “In the 1890s, the UDC created the Southern Cross of Honor that was given to men who fought for the Confederacy,” explained Deeming. “The one we have was bestowed upon William T. Godard of Pike County, GA. He served as a bugler for the 4th Georgia Sharpshooters.”

The Crosses of Military Service and Medals are the modern versions of the Southern Cross of Honor. “The UDC bestows Crosses of Military Service and Medals on men and women who are descended from Confederate soldiers and have fought in subsequent wars, such as World War I or Vietnam,” Deeming said.

The set of medals given to the Museum include:

• Cross of Military Service, based on the Southern Cross of Honor, is presented to veterans of World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam who are lineal blood descendants of Confederate soldiers.
• National Defense Medal is presented to veterans who served during the Korean War and Vietnam Conflict, but not in Korea or Vietnam, and are lineal blood descendants of Confederate soldiers.
• The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is presented to veterans who served in U.S. Military Operations, U.S. Military Operations in Direct Support of United Nations, or U.S. Operations of Assistance for Friendly Foreign Nations after July 1, 1958, and are lineal blood descendants of Confederate soldiers.
• The Pioneer in Space Award is presented to men and women who have flown in space and are lineal blood descendants of Confederate soldiers.
• The Meritorious Service Award is presented to veterans during certain timeframes who are collateral descendants of Confederate soldiers.

The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History is located 20 miles north of Atlanta, just off I-75 at exit 273, Wade Green Road. Open Monday-Saturday, 9:30 AM-5:00 PM, Sunday noon-5:00 PM. For more information, visit www.southernmuseum.org or call (770) 427-2117.