AOH Memorial
AOH History
In 1985, under the guidance of National President Joe Roche, the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) dedicated an obelisk of Wicklow granite within the Medal of Honor Grove to honor Medal of Honor recipients who were unrepresented in the grove due to a lack of citizenship or a designated state. This unique memorial lists the names of 160 foreign-born recipients from at least 18 countries, all of whom lacked U.S. state affiliation. Of these, 65 recipients were of Irish birth, reflecting the heritage and contributions of Irish-born soldiers. The AOH Obelisk stands as a tribute to these men and honors recipients from various birthplaces.
Honored Countries of Birth:
- Australia
- Birthplace Unknown
- Canada
- Denmark
- England
- France
- Germany
- Holland
- Ireland
- Japan
- Malta
- Norway
- Philippines
- Russia
- Scotland
- South Wales
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- West Indies
How the AOH Became Involved in the Medal of Honor Grove
The AOH’s involvement in the grove began with Sister Maria Veronica of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In her retirement at Camilla Hall, she embarked on an extensive research project to document all Medal of Honor recipients. During this research, Sister Veronica noticed a number of men who, due to their foreign birth, lacked state representation in the grove. Many of these men were Irish-born immigrants who had not been able to become U.S. citizens before their acts of bravery.
Sister Veronica shared this discovery with her friend Bob Dougherty, a charter member of the Chester County AOH. Recognizing the need for a tribute, Bob brought this to the attention of AOH National President Joe Roche, who formed a committee dedicated to creating a suitable memorial. Thanks to the dedication of this committee, the idea took shape as a seven-foot-seven-inch obelisk made of Wicklow granite. Positioned near the entrance to the Medal of Honor Grove, the monument stands on an octagonal plaza, overlooking a serene, man-made pond. The obelisk is engraved with the names of Medal of Honor recipients from Ireland, as well as those from countries around the world, including five whose birthplaces remain unknown.
In recognition of her invaluable historical contributions, Sister Maria Veronica was awarded the prestigious Anna C. Malia Award by the Pennsylvania Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians in 1989.