(Part 4 of 4)
The Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart were awarded posthumously December 19, 1944, to the next of kin in a ceremony at the post chapel at Fort Myer, VA. A onetime only posthumous Special Medal for Heroism was authorized by Congress and awarded by the President Eisenhower on January 18, 1961. Congress attempted to confer the Medal of Honor but was blocked by the stringent requirements that required heroism performed under fire. This special medal was intended to have the same weight and importance as the Medal of Honor.
Four Chaplains Day
In 1988, February 3 was established by a unanimous act of Congress as an annual 'Four Chaplains Day.' Some state or city officials commemorate the day with official proclamations, sometimes including the order that flags fly at half-mast in memory of the fallen chaplains. Official proclamations sometimes set observances outside standard holidays; for instance, Chaplains Day in Texas is held annually on February 3, following a U.S. Senate Resolution from 1998. Though not a state holiday, it is marked by events at military bases like Fort Hood and Fort Bliss, universities such as Texas Lutheran University, and recognized by state agencies including the Texas General Land Office. The Episcopal Church also observes the day on its liturgical calendar.