This Week we Celebrate the life of
James Frank Adams, Recipient of the Medal of Honor
James Frank Adams
Born: Aug 26, 1844 Died: Mar 12, 1922
Rank: Private
Organization: US Army
Assigned to: 1st West Virginia Calvary, Company D
Medal of Honor awarded for: Capture of State flag of 14th Virginia Cavalry (C.S.A.)
Buried at: Oaklawn Memorial Park,
Barboursville,
West Virginia, USA
View Burial Headstone
Citation: The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to Private James F. Adams, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism on 12 November 1864, while serving with the Company D, 1st West Virginia Cavalry, in action at Ninevah, Virginia, in the capture of State flag of 14th Virginia Cavalry (Confederate States of America).
Significance of Military Colors
In military organizations, the practice of carrying colors, standards or Guidons, to act both as a rallying point for troops, and to mark the location of the commander, is thought to have originated in Ancient Egypt some 5,000 years ago. It was formalized in the armies of medieval Europe, with standards being emblazoned with the commander's coat of arms.
As armies became trained and adopted set formations, each regiment's ability to keep its formation was potentially critical to its, and therefore its army's, success. In the chaos of battle, not least due to the amount of dust and smoke on a battlefield, soldiers needed to be able to determine where their regiment was.
Colors may be inscribed with the names of battles or other symbols representing former achievements (see battle honours). As a symbol of a regiment they are always guarded, and paid compliments.
Colors are usually treated with reverence. They are never capriciously destroyed - when too old to use they are replaced and then laid-up in museums, religious buildings and other places of significance to their regiment. However, in most modern armies, standing orders now call for the Colors to be intentionally destroyed if they are ever in jeopardy of being captured by the enemy.
Due to the advent of modern weapons, and subsequent changes in tactics, Colors are no longer carried into battle, but continue to be used at events of formal character.