Honoring Lancaster County’s Medal of Honor Recipients
A Solemn Ceremony
On March 25th, I had the honor of attending a National Medal of Honor Day ceremony at Greenwood Cemetery. The invitation came from Scott Fasnacht, longtime friend, fraternity brother, and past camp commander of the General George H. Thomas, Camp 19, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW). Although the occasion honored all those Medal of Honor recipients with a connection to Lancaster County, the SUVCW sponsored two separate events during the day to commemorate the only two Medal of Honor recipients buried in Lancaster County.
The first ceremony honored William H. Strayer, who served in Company B, 3rd U.S. Cavalry during the Indian Wars of the late nineteenth century. He was cited for gallantry on April 26, 1872 for action at Loupe Fork of the Platte River, Nebraska. He received his Medal of Honor on May 22, 1872. Private Strayer (later Sergeant) is buried at Camp Hill Cemetery in Mount Joy. Jodi Barone, Lancaster County Director of Veteran Affairs, spoke at the ceremony, shared a proclamation from the Lancaster County Commissioners, and took part in a wreath laying ceremony.
The second ceremony honored Charles H. Fasnacht, who served in Company A, 99th Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War. He was cited for capturing the flag of the 2nd Louisiana Regiment (Louisiana Tigers) in a hand-to-hand contest on May 12, 1864. He received his Medal of Honor on April 2, 1878. Sergeant Fasnacht (later First Lieutenant) is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Lancaster. Scott Fasnacht and his brother James, great-grandsons of Charles Fasnacht, took part in the wreath laying ceremony.
Lt. General Dennis L. Benchoff (retired) participated in both wreath laying ceremonies. The Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard also took part in each ceremony — providing a color guard and the sounding of Taps.
The Medal of Honor – Background
The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest medal for valor in combat that can be awarded to members of the armed forces. The MOH is awarded by the president of the United States in their role as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The Medal is often referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor since Congress created the award, and it is conferred by the president in the name of Congress. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton presented the first Medals of Honor to six members of the U.S. Army’s “Andrews Raiders” on March 25, 1863. Of the over 41 million who have served in the U.S. military, the Medal has been presented to only 3,528 service members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
National Medal of Honor Day
Beginning in 1991, the United States Congress has designated March 25 of each year as National Medal of Honor Day. The purpose of the day is to foster public appreciation of and recognition for Meal of Honor recipients. While not a federal holiday, the day serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who put their lives on the line for our country and to celebrate the bravery and courage of recipients.
Local Medal of Honor Recipients – By the Numbers
To date, nine individuals with ties to Lancaster County have received the Medal of Honor; this number includes eight born in the county and a ninth whose family resided in the county. Of these nine presentations, six were awarded for action during the Civil War. One medal each was awarded for action during the Indian Wars of the late nineteenth century, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The Korean and Vietnam War medals were awarded posthumously. Seven of these individuals served in the U.S. Army; two served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Members of the General George H. Thomas, Camp 19 assembled the following list from information provided by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and local newspaper accounts. In alphabetical order they are:
Milton Blickensdefer (1835-1916)
Place of Birth: Lancaster
Civil War: Company E, 126th Ohio Infantry
Citation: Capture of flag, Petersburg, Virginia
Trustrim Connell (1844-1937)
Place of Birth: Lancaster
Civil War: Company I, 138th Pennsylvania Infantry
Citation: Capture of flag, Deatonsville (Sailor’s Creek, Virginia)
Charles H. Fasnacht (1842-1902)
Place of Birth: Lancaster County
Civil War: Company A, 99th Pennsylvania Infantry
Citation: Capture of flag, Spotsylvania, Virginia
Isaac N. Fry (1839-1900)
Place of Birth: Hinkletown, Lancaster County
Civil War: U.S.S. Ticonderoga
Citation: Battery fire, Fort Fisher, North Carolina
Chester Furman (1842-1910)
Place of Birth: Columbia, Lancaster County
Civil War: Company A, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves
Citation: Action near Devil’s Den, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
John Kinsey (1844-1904)
Place of Birth: Lancaster County
Civil War: Company B, 45th Pennsylvania Infantry
Citation: Saved the company colors from capture, Spotsylvania, Virginia
William D. Port (1941-1968)
Place of Birth: Petersburg, Huntington County; family resided in Elizabethtown, Lancaster County
Vietnam War: Company C, 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry, 1st Air Cavalry Division
Citation: Conspicuous gallantry in action, Que Son Valley, Duc Province, Vietnam: Died in action
Robert Ream (1925-1950)
Place of Birth: Lancaster
Korean War: Company H, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division
Citation: Conspicuous gallantry in action, vicinity of Chinhung-ni, Korea; Died in action
William H. Strayer (1847-1876)
Place of Birth: Bainbridge, Lancaster County
Indian Wars: Company B, 3rd U.S. Cavalry
Citation: Gallantry in action, Loupe Fork of the Platte River, Nebraska
Civil War Collections at LancasterHistory
The Civil War collections of LancasterHistory include numerous objects associated with various individuals from Lancaster County. These objects belonged to individuals serving with a variety of Pennsylvania units, including the 79th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry (PVI) also known as the Lancaster County regiment. Highlights from the LancasterHistory Civil War Collection include a uniform sash, leather gauntlets, and shoulder epaulets belonging to General John F. Reynolds as well as several presentation swords. These swords are currently on exhibit in LancasterHistory’s Decorative Arts Center located on the lower level of the museum. The first three swords in this exhibit date from the Civil War and include the following:
Sword #1 – Lt. John Pontz Presentation Sword and Scabbard
Lt. Pontz (1838-1929) served in Company K, 79th Pennsylvania Infantry during the Civil War. The inscription on the scabbard states that the sword was presented to Pontz at Johnsonville, Tennessee on June 19, 1865.
Sword #2 – George W. Brientnall Presentation Sword and Scabbard
George Brientnall (1846-1901) originally enlisted as a drummer in Company D, 77th Pennsylvania Infantry in 1861 during the Civil War. The pommel at the end of the sword grip is in the shape of an eagle’s head.
Sword #3 – Major Jeremiah Rohrer Presentation Sword
Major Rohrer (1827-1910) served in Company H, 127th Pennsylvania Infantry. The blade is marked with several patriotic symbols including an eagle and “E Pluribus Unum,” the motto of the United States.
The graveside events organized by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War are only one example of how individuals and organizations can honor Medal of Honor recipients. Other ways to honor recipients might include volunteering for or donating to a local veteran’s organization; adopting a Medal of Honor gravesite; or simply flying the United States flag at your home or business each year on March 25 in remembrance of their service and sacrifice.
From Object Lessons