Obama awards posthumous Medal of Honor to Civil War veteran


President Obama has awarded Alonzo H. Cushing, first lieutenant in the Union Army, the Congressional Medal of Honor.
In a ceremony at the White House on Thursday, Obama honored Cushing, who died in the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863. He was 22 when he was shot and killed by Confederate soldiers during Pickett's Charge.
Recommendations for the Medal of Honor must be made within a few years of a heroic act, but Congress made an exception for Cushing, thanks to the lobbying of one 94-year-old woman. Margaret Zerwekh spent almost 50 years trying to get Cushing the Medal of Honor — she told The Washington Post that Cushing "helped make this country what it is" and that he "saved the Union."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Zerwekh has a special connection to Cushing, because her home in Delafield, Wisconsin, once belonged to the Cushings. She wrote letters to every member of Congress from Wisconsin — and multiple presidents — about awarding Cushing the honor. Finally, Congress passed legislation last year to suspend the time limit in Cushing's case.
"No matter how long it takes, it's never too late to do the right thing," Obama said at the ceremony. "This story is part of our larger American story and one that continues to this very day." --Meghan DeMaria
Iframe Code
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
-
Music reviews: Lorde, Barbra Streisand, and Karol G
Feature "Virgin," "The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume Two," and "Tropicoqueta"
-
AMC hopes new ticket discounts will reinvigorate the movie theater industry
In the Spotlight The theater chain now has 50% discounts on both Tuesdays and Wednesdays
-
'A recipe for higher costs and lower living standards'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department
-
Cuomo announces third-party run for NYC mayor
Speed Read He will go up against progressive Democratic powerhouse Zohran Mamdani and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams
-
Secret Service 'failures' on Trump shooting
Speed Read Two new reports detail security breakdowns that led to attempts on the president's life
-
Trump set to hit Canada with 35% tariffs
Speed Read The president accused Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney of failing to stop the cross-border flow of fentanyl
-
Mahmoud Khalil files $20M claim over ICE detention
Speed Read This is the 'first damages complaint' brought by an individual targeted by the Trump's administration's 'crackdown' on Gaza war protesters