Two soldiers meet in Charles Parks's sculpture atop this Medal of Honor memorial in Brandywine Park, Wilmington, Delaware. Erected and dedicated in 1998 by the African American Medal of Honor Association, Inc., this monument honors African-American recipients of the Medal of Honor since 1861. Atop the memorial is a sculpture by Charles Parks that brings two stories into a single image.
It depicts Sgt. William Harvey Carney, the first African-American to receive the distinction, recognized for his gallantry in saving the regimental colors during the Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863. Beside him is Private Milton L. Olive, the first black recipient in the Vietnam War, who sacrificed himself at age 18 by smothering a live grenade. These are individual acts that stand for a long, often difficult history of service; as of 2020 more than 3,500 military service members have earned the Medal of Honor, and of those only 92 have been African-American men.
Remember that only major acts of heroism are recognized by the Medal of Honor award. Picture Sgt. Carney and Private Olive honored atop this monument, and follow the park down 18th Street toward Baynard Boulevard.