President Obama presents Gettysburg hero with Medal of Honor, 151 years late

President Barack Obama presented another Medal of Honor on Thursday, but it was unlike any other such ceremony in history, since it came 151 years after the death of the honoree.

Lt. Alonzo Cushing was a Union commander at the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. He was just 22 when he was killed during the fight, but was already a veteran of the battles at Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg. He was also a West Point graduate, born in Wisconsin.

According to USA Today, ameteur historieans and fans of Cushing’s exploits had been lobbying Congress for 25 years to get him the award. Several distant cousins attended the ceremony, with Helen Loring Ensign, 85, accepting the medal. Cushing was her first cousin, twice removed.

“Sometimes even the most extraordinary stories can get lost in the passage of time,” Obama said during the ceremony. “This medal is a reminder that no matter how long it takes, it's never too late to do the right thing."

The Associated Press notes that Cushing lead 110 men and six cannons. Despite being wounded in his abdomen and right shoulder, he refused to stand down on the third day of the fighting. He was killed by Confederate forces as they moved in.

Obama made sure to mention Margaret Zerwekh, 93, the ameteur historian who pushed for Cushing to be recognised.

image courtesy of Michele Eve Sandberg/INFphoto.com

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