FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA — In a solemn ceremony held on October 5 at the Union League of Philadelphia, two distinguished members of the Pennsylvania National Guard were awarded the prestigious Octavius V. Catto Medal. Master Sgt. Marcos Figueroa from the Recruiting and Retention Battalion and Master Sgt. John Shaw of the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade were this year’s recipients of an award that honors exemplary leadership in both military and community service.
The Octavius V. Catto Medal, named after Civil War-era militia officer and civil rights advocate Octavius V. Catto, is a revered accolade within the Pennsylvania National Guard. It recognizes soldiers who extend their commitment beyond the battlefield, embodying Catto’s legacy of civic leadership and public service. Brig. Gen. John Pippy, Pennsylvania’s Acting Adjutant General, underscored the significance of the award, stating, “By issuing the Catto Medal to Soldiers and Airmen who follow Catto’s example of excellent military and community service, we are doing our part to keep his memory alive.”
Master Sgt. Marcos Figueroa, a resident of Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, has been a member of the Guard for 15 years. Currently serving as the company first sergeant for Delta Company in the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Figueroa highlighted the broader impact of his recognition, stating, “Receiving the Octavius V. Cotto Award is not just a personal honor; it represents my commitment to empowering the next generation.” His dedication to mentoring youth in inner-city communities demonstrates his passion for fostering future leaders.
Master Sgt. John Shaw, hailing from Lucerne Mines, Pennsylvania, has served in the Guard for 23 years and holds the position of senior human resources noncommissioned officer for the 28th ECAB. Shaw expressed his humility in receiving the award, noting, “I am humbled to be receiving this award. Like most volunteers, I don’t do it to be recognized. I volunteer to give back to my community.”
The Catto Medal, initially created in the 1880s, bears historical significance, though it went unawarded until its re-institution in 2012. Octavius Catto, a pivotal figure in the desegregation efforts in Philadelphia during the 1860s, was a professor and a community leader who championed the rights of African-Americans. His legacy is one of courage and dedication to equality, values that the Catto Medal aims to perpetuate among today’s Guardsmen.
Brig. Gen. Pippy concluded the ceremony with a call to action for all members of the Guard to embody the values that Catto lived by, stating, “When these Guardsmen put on their uniforms with the Catto Medal, it tells the world that we in the Guard strive to uphold the values Catto embodied. We can all, no matter our background, aspire to follow his example of courage, excellence and selfless service.”
The ceremony not only honored the individual achievements of Figueroa and Shaw but also celebrated the enduring legacy of Octavius V. Catto, inspiring future generations to pursue excellence and serve their communities with distinction.
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