Making The Country A Safer Place To Live

The mysterious janitor said goodbye to the world on March 15, 2000, at the age of 81. He spent a big fraction of his life serving the country and died at his residence in Colorado leaving his wife Eileen behind. Even after death, he created history. Due to his exceptional service in the war, he was buried at the US Air Force Academy Cemetery in Colorado Springs. It made him the very first non -Air Force enlistee to be buried in an Air Force Academy. In 2009, his wife also died and was buried beside him.

An Icon Lives On

The day Crawford died, all Colorado flags were lowered to half-mast signaling the mourning and respect for Crawford. The order to lower the flag half-mast was issued by Governor Bill Owens. Moreover, a big bronze statue was made in his memory standing next to Raymond G. Murphy, Drew Dennis Dix, and Carl L. Sitter, the town’s other three recipients of Medal of Honor.

A Food For Thought

Crawford was a living legend who taught big lessons to the world with his humbleness, determination, and courage. Moschgat describes the skills of Crawford in his essay called  “A Janitor’s Ten Lessons in Leadership.” that reads “Private Bill Crawford didn’t pursue glory; he did his duty and then swept floors for a living,” he further writes “If Bill Crawford, a Medal of Honor winner, could clean latrines and smile, is there a job beneath your dignity? Think about it.”

Many Valuable Lessons

Moschet has aptly described Crawford in his essay. His affection for the janitor is evident in his piece of writing. He writes “A wise person once said, “It’s not life that’s important, but those you meet along the way that make the difference.”  Bill was one who made a difference for me.  While I haven’t seen Mr. Crawford in over twenty years, he’d probably be surprised to know I think of him often. Bill Crawford, our janitor, taught me many valuable, unforgettable leadership lessons”

Not The Only Delayed Dedication

Did this story of Janitor pull your heartstring? If yes, then it may interest you to know that he was not the only man who was awarded Medal of Honor decades after his achievements. There are many in the line and one of them is Vernon Baker. The next slide tells the story of a soldier from Wyoming who stood firm to all the hardships in life and made history just like Crawford.

Story Retold

This legend was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming in 1919. The life became brutal to him when he became orphan at the mere age of four as his parents died in a car accident. After the demise of his parents, he with his two sisters were taken in by his grandparents. He did his graduation from high school in Clarinda, Iowa. His professional profile included many menial jobs that he took up after completing his graduation. It was in 1941 that he got a new direction to his career when he enlisted himself in the U.S.  Army. Initially, the recruiter rejected him by saying  “We don’t have any quotas for you people.” But he was far from giving up.