The Historical Society is honored to be the owner of Lt. Gary Lee Miller’s Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously by President Nixon in1969, and given to the museum by Lt. Miller’s father, Alfred Miller, in 2004.  Lt. Gary Lee Miller (1947 - 1969) was born in Covington and enrolled in the US Army in Roanoke VA in 1967.  While in the Binh Duong Province of South Vietnam, Miller smothered the blast of an enemy grenade with his body, sacrificing his life to protect those around him.

His Medal of Honor Citation:

For conspicuous intrepidity and gallantry in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. First Lt. Miller, Infantry, Company A, was serving as a platoon leader at night when his company ambushed a hostile force infiltrating from Cambodian sanctuaries. After contact with the enemy was broken, 1st Lt. Miller led a reconnaissance patrol from their prepared positions through the early evening darkness and dense tropical growth to search the area for enemy casualties. As the group advanced they were suddenly attacked. First Lt. Miller was seriously wounded. However, the group fought back with telling effect on the hostile force. An enemy grenade was thrown into the midst of the friendly patrol group and all took cover except 1st Lt. Miller, who in the dim light located the grenade and threw himself on it, absorbing the force of the explosion with his body. His action saved nearby members of his patrol from almost certain serious injury. The extraordinary courage and selflessness displayed by this officer were an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army.

In 2024, the museum received a conservation grant from the Virginia Association of Museums, and began a campaign with the help of the Alleghany Historical Society to conserve the medal.  The original mount used an animal glue that stained the silk faille ribbon, causing harm to the silk and detracting from the overall visual appearance of the Medal.

As a part of this conservation, Ashley Webb, Museum Executive Director and Curator, with the help of Paul Linkenhoker and the Alleghany Historical Society in Covington, Virginia, conducted several oral histories with individuals who knew Gary Miller growing up in Covington. Enhanced with documents from a private collector, stories from his brother, Michael Miller, as well as Jess Lockhart, his platoon leader in Vietnam, the museum was able to create a Medal of Honor video for Lt. Miller, honoring his bravery and sacrifice for our country during the Vietnam War. The Medal was loaned to the Virginia Museum of History and Culture for their Virginia & the Vietnam War exhibition, on display in Richmond from November 23, 2024 to July 6, 2025.

Thank you to the following for contributing to the conservation of Lt. Miller’s Medal of Honor:

Virginia Association of Museums

Marian Paxton

Pam & Howard Poague

Teresa Wulff

Johnsie & Camilla Cabiness

Nadine S. Judy

Joyce Armentrout

Mr. & Mrs. Howard Wood

Covington-Hot Springs Rotary Club

VFW Post 1033

Pat and Lynda Loving

Loving Funeral Home

Gary Rice

DorothyWimer

Michael P. Michie

Anderson Monument Co.

Walter "Skipper" and Pam Folks

Richard and Priscilla Downer

RMI James USN (Ret) & Cathy Hayslett

Charles and Jean Bartley

Linda Morrison

Randall K. Whitehead

Paul and Brenda Linkenhoker

Paul Riley

Jo Ann Noel

Bert and Betsy Caul

Ann Hoist

Bobby and Anita Rice

Pat and Roger Amos

Larry A. Glover

Jennifer & Doug Unroe

Mary Ann Beirne

VFW Post 1033 Auxiliary

Gary & Jean Crawford

Shirley Miller Graham

Covington High School Class of 1965

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