Americans have long recognized the bravery and service of our armed forces personnel and have put into place a hierarchy of awards for those who go beyond dedication to duty, the highest being the Medal of Honor. But how are such honors awarded? What is bravery beyond expectation and how do we differentiate?  Since the Civil War, the Medal of Honor has been not only a source of great pride but also controversy and mystery.

The March 10th Franklin Civil War Round Table presents Gregory L Wade who will share fascinating facts about how we treat those with valorous battlefield achievements. And he’ll share some examples of Tennesseans who have been recognized for bravery from the Civil War to today. The Confederacy had a similar award for bravery with local implications that will be noted. You might be surprised at many of the stories, some of which present a darker side of sincere efforts to recognize heroism.

Wade founded the Franklin Civil War Round Table in 2007, which has presented over 200 events.  He has also served on the boards of Franklin’s Charge. Battle of Franklin Trust, Tennessee Civil War Preservation Association and Save the Franklin Battlefield.  He received the 2015 TCWPA Ragland Award and the BOFT’s 2019 Legacy Award for his work in battlefield preservation. His historical fiction, Broken Valley, was released in 2014 and he has written for the Civil War News, Sea Classics, Blue and Gray, and several other publications.  His tours on the “retreat” after the Battle of Nashville have created interest in a relatively unknown yet critical event in the Civil War and he has spoken at the American Battlefield Trust annual meetings as well as dozens of other historical organizations.

This presentation will be held at the Williamson Country Library on Columbia Avenue in Franklin. The event will begin at 3:00 on Sunday, March 10th.  The public is invited. Please note this location change. For additional information contact about the Civil War Round Table, contact gregwade55@yahoo.com.

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The Williamson County Public Library System’s Main Library is located in downtown Franklin at 1314 Columbia Avenue. Branches are located in Fairview, Bethesda, College Grove, Nolensville, and Leiper’s Fork. For more information about library programs or services, call (615) 595-1243 or visit http://wcpltn.org. Sign up to receive library events and announcements at https://bit.ly/WCPLSe-news. The library can also be found on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, WordPress, and Twitter via @wcpltn.org.

The views expressed in this program are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or opinions of the Williamson County Public Library System.