Desmond T. Doss Day in Lynchburg

Friday, October 11th 12:00 at Monument Terrace

LYNCHBURG, VA – The Lynchburg Area Veterans Council (LAVC) will observe Desmond T. Doss Day in the City of Lynchburg on Friday, October 11, during the weekly Monument Terrace Support the Troops Rally at 12:00 p.m.

The event will include a reading of the City’s Desmond T. Doss Day Proclamation and his Medal of Honor Citation, awarded by President Harry Truman on October 12, 1945. President Truman once remarked, “I would rather have this Medal than be President of the United States.”

The LAVC invites everyone in the Lynchburg area to join in honoring the service, sacrifice, courage, and faith of Lynchburg native Desmond T. Doss at Monument Terrace on Friday, October 11.

Who is Desmond T. Doss?

For those who travel on the Desmond T. Doss Expressway and wonder who Desmond T. Doss is--the expressway is named in honor of a Lynchburg native known for his extraordinary bravery and unwavering faith during World War II. Born here in Lynchburg on February 7, 1919, Doss grew up in the same community that now proudly celebrates his legacy. His heroic actions, particularly during the Battle of Okinawa, earned him the Medal of Honor, making him a symbol of courage and sacrifice not only for Lynchburg but for the entire nation.

A devout Seventh-day Adventist, Doss adhered to his belief in nonviolence and refused to carry a weapon into battle, earning him the distinction of a conscientious objector. Despite this, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a medic and served in some of the most dangerous battles in the Pacific theater.

Doss’s most remarkable act of heroism occurred during the Battle of Okinawa, where, under relentless enemy fire, he saved 75 fellow soldiers by single-handedly lowering them down a cliff to safety. For his courageous actions, Doss became the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor, awarded by President Harry Truman on October 12, 1945.

His dedication to both his faith and his fellow soldiers has made him a symbol of courage. Lynchburg proudly honors his legacy with the annual observance of Desmond T. Doss Day, serving as a reminder of the impact one individual can have on both their hometown and their country.