Friends Medal Of Honor Grove

06/10/2026

Rain or shine Irish Thunder Played on

06/01/2026

We are sad to share the passing of Medal of Honor recipient Bruce Crandall. We thank you for your service, sir. May you rest in peace.

Colonel Bruce Perry Crandall, United States Army (Ret.), a devoted husband, proud father, spirited storyteller, and cherished friend to many, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2026, at his residence at Mirabella at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. He was 93 years old. Now, there are only....

05/25/2026

Happy Memorial Day Reuben and thank you for your service 🇺🇸

38.7K likes, 6598 comments. “ ”

05/18/2026

Let's get ready to Rumble!

05/08/2026

Get your tickets before they're gone! Support the Medal of Honor Grove while enjoying a fun evening with friends.

05/01/2026

SUCCESSFUL SPRING CLEAN UP WEEK APRIL 21-26, 2026.

Our sincere thanks to all involved.

PECO volunteers did a great job digging holes for new trees on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

On Friday, April 24, 2026, Constellation Energy volunteers planted all the trees and fenced most of them.

During our annual Spring cleanup on Sunday, April 26, 2026, Bank of America volunteers, along with several other local volunteers, chipped many branches and repaired much of the fencing around older trees. During those three days, we also removed some of the damaged plaques and filled the holes left by their removal.

Special thanks to Tim Michel for heading up these volunteer days, to Kimberly for her work on the plaques, Rich Durachko, Joe Cresencz, Matt Kelly, Paul Carney, Wayne Makatche and Bruce Speck for coming out, pitching in, helping to supervise the volunteers and to Josh Lord and John Westerman Tree Service for providing the chipping.

We could not have done it without you and all the other volunteers who took their time to come out.

With Gratitude,

Mark Ryan
Chairman of the Board
Friends of the Medal of Honor Grove

02/14/2026

John Baca’s extraordinary courage under fire reflects the highest ideals of our nation — duty, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to others.

His actions were not simply heroic; they were an expression of leadership grounded in character and love of country. The Medal of Honor stands as our nation’s most solemn recognition of valor, and stories like his remind us that freedom has always required individuals willing to place service above self.

At the Friends of the Medal of Honor Grove, we remain committed to preserving and sharing these legacies — ensuring that future generations understand both the cost of liberty and the responsibility of citizenship.

On this day in 1970, John Baca went above and beyond the call of duty while serving our nation during the Vietnam War, for which he would later receive the Medal of Honor. Today, he is one of only 61 living Recipients, and his story continues to inspire.

Then-Specialist Fourth Class John Baca displayed extraordinary heroism and selflessness during a night ambush mission. When a platoon from his company was ambushed, Baca led his recoilless-rifle team through heavy enemy fire to reinforce the besieged patrol. As they prepared to engage the enemy, a gr***de was thrown into their midst. Recognizing the imminent danger to his fellow soldiers, Baca, without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own life, covered the gr***de with his helmet and fell on it as it exploded. His courageous action absorbed the blast, shielding eight men from serious injury or death.

Preserving stories like Baca’s is essential, not only to honor their sacrifice but to inspire future generations with examples of valor, integrity, and service. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is committed to ensuring these incredible acts of bravery are never forgotten and continue to serve as a beacon of hope and resilience for our nation.

01/25/2026

❄️CLOSED❄️
Due to the weather conditions, the Medal of Honor Grove and the Valley Forge campus of Founding Forward will be closed on Monday, January 26.

To ensure everyone's safety, The Medal of Honor Grove will be closed until further notice. We will provide an update when conditions improve.

01/23/2026

"It is sad news to have lost a faithful volunteer of the Friends of the Grove. Ed and his daughter April, attended many cleanups throughout the year,s beginning when the Friends first took over the stewardship of the Grove. Ed was a Navy vet and chose to come to the Grove to work and honor all who served. He always had a smile on his face and a joke waiting for you. Those who were with the Friends in the early years will remember Ed and April driving one of their trucks to pick up branches to take off-site. Ed was a good man, and he will be missed. RIP friend." Deb Woolson, former FMOG Board Member & Volunteer Director

Celebrate the life of Edward Hennessey and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

12/14/2025

Founding Forward and the Friends Medal Of Honor Grove partnered to host the annual Wreaths Across the Grove event, which recognizes our fallen heroes, including the 3,500+ Medal of Honor recipients recognized in Founding Forward's 42-acre Medal of Honor Grove. Today's program featured Keynote Speaker Captain Ryan Peters, who delivered moving remarks in honor of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our liberties.

We also wish to thank our distinguished guests who took part in the program, including Captain Ryan Peters, Mr. Robert Cavalier, Mr. Stephen Target, Father Tommy Thompson, Mr. Mark Ryan, and Mr. John Meko.

We extend our gratitude to the sponsors of today's event, the nearly 200 participants who honored the recipients by laying wreaths throughout the Grove, Founding Forward Board and Charter Members, the Friends of the Medal of Honor Grove Board and volunteers, The Union League of Philadelphia Board and members, and community supporters for their generous support with this event.