MHS receives Bradley Portrait as part of Veterans Day Observance

In February, a crowd gathered at the MHS auditorium to celebrate the 117^th birthday of Moberly’s favorite son Omar Bradley. Proclamations were presented on the local, county and state level declaring his birthday of February 12 as Omar Bradley Day.

Many stories were told of Bradley’s achievements that day but also those which gave insight into the personal side of the soldier whom Randolph County calls their own.

The day was to have concluded with the unveiling of a portrait of Gen. Bradley, a copy of the one which hangs in the Bradley wing of the Pentagon. However, the severe weather of Washington D.C. prevented that from happening.

Until last week.

As was fitting for one of only nine five-star generals, the portrait finally came to Moberly and was unveiled in a special ceremony on Veterans Day.

The portrait of Bradley, who was the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was donated to MHS by Admiral Michael Mullen, current chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Helping to present and unveil the portrait was Major General John D. Altenburg, Jr. Altenburg was named recently the General of the Army Omar N. Bradley Joint Chair in Strategic Leadership at Dickinson college and the Army War College in Carlisle, Penn.

Altenburg gave a brief synopsis of Bradley’s background and accomplishments. He was a scholar at MHS, where he graduated 100 years ago, and a stellar athlete. He commanded the largest ever assemblage of soldiers during World War II, U.S. Army Group 12 comprised of 1.2 million soldiers. After the war, he was put in charge of Veterans Affairs where he faced the challenge of reducing the armed forces from 16 million to 2 million.

But Altenburg pointed to Bradley’s values that made him a standout. Bradley’s concern for others rather than a spirit of “what’s in it for me” said Altenburg.

Altenburg said he learned persistence from Bradley’s life. The Moberly High school choir had performed at the opening of the ceremony and remained for the program. Altenburg directed his words of advice primarily toward them.

“Persistence is the key. Staying at what you’re doing,” he said. “Keep working at your goals. Education alone won’t get you there. Talent alone won’t get you there. The world is full of wasted talent. Persistence combined with a love of humans, for other people, is what made him a success. He genuinely cared about people and he learned that here.”

This and the February ceremony were sponsored by members of the Gen. Omar Bradley Library and Museum Committee. The committee’s purpose is to raise awareness and educate the public about Moberly’s favorite son. It’s long-term goal is to raise funds, on a national level, to establish a library and museum honoring the general.