March 25, 2024, was National Medal of Honor Day, and a group of veterans from The American Legion Department of West Virginia commemorated three Medal of Honor recipients who are buried in close proximity to each other in Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery near Dunbar, W.Va. Thomas Marshall Post 130 Adjutant J.P. Florentz organized the ceremony with support from two honor guard details provided by Barboursville Post 177 and James E. Marshall Post 187. Present for the ceremony were Department Commander Matt Sampson, 8th District Vice Commander Andrea Hammock, members of the Marine Corps League, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Veterans Assistance Ted Diaz and local W.Va. Delegate Walter Hall. A brief service began with an invocation and proceeded with a reading of each award citation during which a Medal of Honor Recipient flag was placed at each grave.

James Calvin Summers received the Medal of Honor for his actions at Vicksburg, Miss., on May 22, 1863, for gallantry in charge of the volunteer storming party.

Chester Howard West was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I on Sep. 26, 1918, near Bois-de-Cheppy, France. Without aid, he dashed through machine gun fire and, attacking the nest, killed two of the gunners, one of whom was an officer.

Hershel Woodrow “Woody” Williams was presented the Medal of Honor by President Truman for his actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. Operating a flamethrower, Williams repeatedly attacked a network of Japanese pillboxes while under intense enemy small arms fire.

The ceremony concluded with three rifle volleys by the honor guard detail and the playing of taps.