Shenandoah County Recognizes Five 1864 Medal of Honor Recipients on Virginia’s Civil War Trails

Shenandoah County recently recognized five United States soldiers who were awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions during the battle of Fisher’s Hill on September 22, 1864. Their stories are told in part on a new Civil War Trails sign located in the heart of the historic battlefield at 3124 Battlefield Road, just outside of Strasburg, Virginia. The partners who completed the project hope it is just the first step in recognizing the soldiers’ meritorious service too.

A private donor brought the project to fruition, enabling Civil War Trails Inc. to research the event, test the content with consumers, and design and fabricate the new sign. Now, since its installation, the Shenandoah County Tourism and Economic Development department and Virginia Tourism Corporation are working to help market the site so visitors can stand in the footsteps of these five soldiers.

“This new Civil War Trails sign will enable our community members and visitors alike to stand in the footsteps of these brave soldiers and add to the number of outdoor interpretive trails we provide year-round,” said Brenda Black, tourism development manager for the county.

The site is already being promoted on the Virginia Civil War Trails map-guides, which are printed by the Virginia Tourism Corporation. These map-guides are stocked at welcome centers and rest areas along the interstates as well as in certified visitor centers and are distributed to travelers from around the world, too.

“As we unveil this new Civil War Trails sign, we honor the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of the five U.S. soldiers who received the Congressional Medal of Honor for their heroism during the battle of Fisher’s Hill in 1864,” said Rita McClenny, president and CEO of Virginia Tourism Corporation. “This sign stands as a testament to their valor and our commitment to preserving and sharing the rich history of Virginia. We invite everyone to explore this significant site and reflect on the great courage exhibited by these soldiers on the battlefield.”

Beyond these efforts the partners hope to add the site to the Medal Of Honor Valor Trail, a partnership project between the American Battlefield Trust and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. According to the Valor Trail website, that program and its interactive map helps link the “incredible stories to the places where we can feel closest to them.”

The hope in having this sign listed as part of the Valor Trail is to further raise the profile of the five soldiers and the battle of Fisher’s Hill, which occurred in Shenandoah County.

“Their names — Connor, Creed, Moore, Rhodes, and Whittier — haven’t been lost to time, but certainly they deserve to be better recognized,” said Drew Gruber, executive director of Civil War Trails Inc. “We are humbled to help elevate their stories, and we hope as you stand in their footsteps you find yourself inspired to dig into their lives in more detail.”

For more information about Civil War Trails or to request a free brochure ,visit www.civilwartrails.org. For more information about exploring Shenandoah County or for a free brochure navigate to: visitshenandoahcounty.com. Be sure to snap a #signselfie when you visit and post it with #civilwartrails @shenandoahtravel.