The 16th annual Jimmie Dyess Symposium will be at 5 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Augusta Museum of History.
Created and developed to recognize Marine Lt. Col. Aquilla James “Jimmie” Dyess “who demonstrated courage as both a citizen and a service member of the United States Marines,” the symposium identifies others who have shown similar valor or made civic contributions above and beyond the call of duty, according to a news release.
The 2026 honorees are Hellen Bissell and Monty Osteen and Medal of Honor recipient, Col. Walter “Joe” Marm Jr.
Retired Maj. Gen. Perry Smith, who served 30 years in the United States Air Force flying missions over North Vietnam and Laos, will provide introductory remarks.
The symposium is designed to preserve and enhance Dyess’s legacy, according to the museum’s website. He was the only person to have received America’s two highest awards for heroism, the Medal of Honor and the Carnegie Medal. The Augusta resident was also an Eagle Scout.
He died during World War II while serving in the Marshall Islands.
The museum has a permanent exhibit which honors Jimmie Dyess. It features the three awards that Dyess received: the Medal of Honor, the Carnegie Medal and the Eagle Scout Award.
The symposium is free.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards and is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
