Friendship, a leader in senior living and rehabilitation, is proud to announce that on Friday, February 3 at 2:00 pm at Club Friendship, U.S. Representative Ben Cline (Virginia’s 6th Congressional District) will present Friendship Resident Robert J. Wilkin with the Medal of Honor that recognizes his late father, Corporal Edward George Wilkin.
On March 18, 1945, during a firefight on the Siegfried Line in Germany during World War II, Wilkin repeatedly went ahead of his unit and engaged the German forces alone, and later evacuated wounded soldiers from the battlefield despite heavy enemy fire. Through his superb fighting skill, dauntless courage, and gallant, inspiring actions, Cpl. Wilkin contributed in large measure to his company’s success in cracking the Siegfried line. One month later, he was killed in action while fighting deep in Germany.
“Corporal Edward George Wilkin not only served and sacrificed; he also set an example of courage for his fellow Americans,” said Friendship President and CEO Joe Hoff. “I am proud that Friendship can host this presentation to recognize, recount, and remember the actions of Corporal Wilkin and his effect on his military brethren as well as our nation. It is appropriate that his son, our own resident Robert Wilkin, will be able to once again receive the Medal of Honor in his father’s memory.”
The medal was originally presented to Robert Wilkin at age seven by Five Star General Omar Bradley. The medal was donated for display, and Robert lost touch with it over the years. Robert contacted Rep. Cline’s office to see if they could help locate the medal. After some digging, Rep. Cline’s staff located the medal at a museum
in Robert’s hometown, and per his request, had it mailed to Rep. Cline’s Roanoke office until the presentation.
The Medal of Honor is the nation’s most prestigious military decoration. Other medals with similar names are awarded by the United States, but the Medal of Honor is the highest award presented to individuals who have gone above and beyond on the battlefield. The Medal of Honor is the oldest continuously issued combat decoration of the United States Armed Forces, first issued in 1861.
