Army Staff Sgt. Travis Atkins was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony on Wednesday, March 27, 2019. Atkins jumped a suicide bomber and was killed saving fellow soldiers in Iraq. President Trump presented the honor attended by family and friends. As reported by the Pentagon, Atkins saw a man wearing explosives and took him down as it was detonated and saved the lives of his fellow soldiers in Iraq. He gave his life saving others. No man or woman can give a greater gift to others than doing what is necessary to save others from harm. As a Vietnam-era veteran and a member of American Legion Post 103 in Douglaston, New York, I salute the bravery of Staff Sgt. Atkins, who did what had to be done and gave his life for others at the age of 31 and left his family grieving .
Let me also salute the bravery of all our men and women in the U.S. military who are serving our nation today. May God bless and protect them all and keep them safe.

By Frederick R. Bedell Jr.