Coverage from Crow's Nest: Events That Transpired on May 30, 2019
**Park University Leads Medal of Honor Review for Minority Veterans**
Park University's George S. Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War is at the forefront of a significant initiative to rectify historical racial injustices in military honours. The Centre is tasked with creating detailed nomination packets for minority veterans who were potentially denied the Medal of Honor due to racial discrimination.
The review process focuses on a diverse group of veterans, including Native American soldiers from various tribes such as Cherokee, Comanche, Muscogee Creek, Choctaw, and Chickasaw. Notable veterans under review include William Penn Adair (Cherokee), Calvin Atchavit (Comanche), Alfred G. Bailey (Cherokee), and others.
The nomination packets are prepared by Park University using archival research and documentation. Once submitted to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the department has up to three years to evaluate these nominations and determine if these veterans merit the Medal of Honor.
While no specific upcoming public events tied directly to this review were mentioned, the involvement of academic and archival institutions indicates an ongoing, methodical process with potential announcements as cases are decided.
This task force and review process is part of a broader effort to ensure that all deserving veterans receive the recognition they earned, signifying a significant step toward addressing racial disparities in military honours and ensuring historic valor is honoured appropriately.
**Recognition for Holly Vega and Park University**
In a separate development, Holly Vega, a junior social psychology major, was recognised as the 2019 Armed Forces Insurance Marine Corps Spouse of the Year. Vega's accomplishments include working with the American Heart Association to found the Military Hearts Matter program.
Tim Westcott, Ph.D., interim dean of the College of Education and Health Professions, Ashlyn Weber, senior history/public history major, and Tim Westcott were also interviewed for a podcast on DannyClinkscale.com about Park University's efforts to review minority World War I soldiers who were denied the Medal of Honor.
Kirby Brown, dean of the College of Management, provided comments for the cover story of the May issue of Ingram's, Kansas City's business magazine, for the publication's annual Higher Education Industry Outlook Report.
Upcoming events at Park University include the Titanic Exhibit, Fine Arts Seniors Art Exhibit, several commencement ceremonies, a lecture by Michael Everhart, "Night at the Helm", the Allison Bowman Art Exhibit, and the World War I Valor Medals Review. The next exhibit to be showcased in Park University's Campanella Gallery will be an exhibit featuring paintings by Allison Bowman, an oil painter who focuses on abstracted botanical environments.
- The General News piece could cover the ongoing education-and-self-development initiative at Park University, where students like Holly Vega are involved in projects that contribute to community development, such as the Military Hearts Matter program.
- The Sports section might highlight an article about the accomplished veterans under review for the Medal of Honor, some of whom, like Calvin Atchavit (Comanche), may have demonstrated remarkable resilience and determination, traits often associated with sports personalities.
