April 5, 2012 Log# 12-13 For Immediate Release Ohio National Guard ceremony to honor Medal of Honor recipients from American Civil War COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio National Guard, in partnership with the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board, will commemorate the 150th anniversary of Andrews’ Raiders and the first recipients of the Medal of Honor at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 12, in the Museum Gallery at the Ohio Statehouse. Andrews' Raid, also referred to as The Great Locomotive Chase, was a military raid by 22 Ohio Soldiers and two civilians that occurred April 12, 1862, in northern Georgia. The volunteers commandeered a train and traveled north toward Chattanooga, Tenn., doing as much damage as possible to the vital Western & Atlantic Railroad, from Atlanta to Chattanooga. The raiders, pursued by other locomotives, were eventually captured and some were executed as spies. “These Ohio Soldiers volunteered for this mission knowing the dangers that lied ahead of them. However, they felt that their actions could disrupt vital supply routes and help bring the war to an end,” said Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Mann, Ohio Army National Guard historian. On March 25, 1863, Secretary of War and Ohio native Edwin Stanton presented Pvt. Jacob Parrott, a Kenton, Ohio, native, with the first Medal of Honor. Since then, 19 members of Andrews’ Raiders have received the nation’s highest award for valor. The ceremony will be attended by Cpl. Ronald E. Rosser, a Roseville, Ohio, resident, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during the Korean War. Rosser’s medal is on display in the Statehouse Museum Gallery. The ceremony will also be streamed live by Ohio Government Television at http://www.ohiochannel.org/MediaLibrary/OhioChannelLive.aspx?liveStreamId=9. -30- FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Mann, Ohio Army National Guard historian, at 614-336-7311 or Gregg Dodd, Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board deputy director of communications, at 614-728-2130. Please visit the Ohio National Guard website at http://ong.ohio.gov. .