Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Francis Currey with
AWB teacher Linda Dougherty and the G.I. Joe action figure
that was patterned after Currey.

The Congressional Medal of Honor is the highest military citation awarded by the United States. Is it given to a member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself "conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his [or her] life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States." In the entire state of New York, there is just one surviving Medal of Honor recipient from World War II -- Francis Currey. Currey, 84, visited A.W. Becker Elementary School on June 10 for the school's annual Flag Day assembly.

According to Wikipedia, Currey was born in Loch Sheldrake, New York, on June 29, 1925. After being orphaned at age 12, he was raised by foster parents on a farm in nearby Hurleyville. He joined the Army in 1943, one week after graduating from high school.

After training with the 75th Infantry Division, Currey was sent to England in the spring of 1944. Due to a recently signed executive order which prevented soldiers under age 19 from entering combat areas, Currey was delayed in England until his birthday at the end of June. He then landed at Omaha Beach, several weeks after D-Day, and in September joined the 120th Infantry Regiment in the Netherlands.

By December 21, 1944, Currey was serving as a Sergeant in Company K, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division. On that day, in Malmedy, Belgium, Currey repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire to attack the German forces and rescue five comrades who had been pinned down by enemy fire. He was awarded the Medal of Honor eight months later, on August 17, 1945. His extreme acts of bravery also earned him the Belgium Medal of Honor, of which there are only 4 in the world. Currey is one of just 22 Medal of Honor recipients from World War II still living.

In 1998, a G.I. Joe action figure was modeled after Currey.

Members of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and Color Guard also attended
the Flag Day assembly at AWB.

Another veteran, Mike Albano, was accompanied by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary and Color Guard. The veterans who were present represented several major wars in our nation’s history, including World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

The fifth-grade band performs patriotic songs at the Flag Day assembly.

The fifth-grade choir sings patriotic songs at the Flag Day assembly.

The fifth-grade band, under the direction of Bill Hoeprich, played several patriotic songs, and the choir, under the direction of Ben Rau, sang patriotic songs. Albano spoke with the students about the meaning of Flag Day. Currey also spoke with the students. Teacher Linda Dougherty had arranged for Currey’s visit, and students from Marisa Tutay’s third-grade class presented a PowerPoint presentation for the school about Flag Day.