Medal of Valore

Perched upon a hill at Park University sits the George S Robb Centre for the Study of the Great War. This quaint building, named after Park alumnus and Medal of Honor recipient George Robb, ‘1912, holds years of military history within its walls. History is not the only thing this building contains but also a team dedicated to changing history. While housing artifacts from wars and military history collections, the main role of researchers at the Centre is to research and help World War I service members that may have been denied the Medal of Honor due to racial or religious discrimination receive the medal they never got.

The structure was built in the 1840s but it wasn’t until a 2018 U.S. Congressional resolution established a task force to conduct a systematic review for the purpose of righting historical wrongs. Dr. Timothy Westcott, director of the George S. Robb Centre, explains their review looks into documents of minorities (including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans and Jewish Americans) to investigate an act of valor.

Working endlessly, going through countless documents, is the ambitious and dedicated team of Park undergraduates and alumni. “We are changing history and setting the status quo of fixing past injustices,” said Josh Weston, associate director of military research. And fixing injustices they have. Since the task force’s establishment, associate director of research and initiatives, Ashlyn Weber, said that they have found 214 service members who may have been denied the medal of valor. Of the 214, 105 were Jewish American, 73 were African American, 23 were Native American, 12 were Hispanic American and one was Asian American. That’s 214 families of heroes that have been provided the closure they have been waiting for. “Some people have been waiting a century for this,” said Dr. Westcott.

While their work is not completed, the team has already made significant progress in recognizing WWI service members and their families. As Weston said, “Valor never expires.”

If you are interested in the work the centre is doing or the history it holds, the George S. Robb Centre is open to tours for eager learners. The team also has a YouTube channel (George S Robb Centre) and a nationally recognized documentary, “More Than a Medal”.