ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, March 29, 1997               TAG: 9703310022
SECTION: CURRENT                  PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: TOM ANGLEBERGER 

APPLAUSE

When Denver Stewart's unit was hit with a surprise attack of enemy fire during the Korean War the last thing on his mind was getting a medal.

But now, 45 years later, the Christiansburg resident realized that the medals he earned that day are a legacy for him to leave to his children and grandchildren.

"I never had received them, and I thought, 'Well, I'll try to get it. Before I die I want to get it for my kids.'"

For reasons no one has been able to answer, Stewart never got his Purple Heart or the certificate documenting how he had earned it. Nor did he have any documentation to accompany his Silver Star, a medal awarded to him in 1952 because of his heroic conduct in the aftermath of that surprise attack.

U.S. Army documents explain what happened. Stewart, who was a master sergeant, earned a Purple Heart when he was struck by fire from a 51-caliber anti-aircraft gun. But his friend was hurt worse and the medics couldn't get to him. Stewart earned the Silver Star for risking his own life to carry his friend to safety.

After trying several times to have the Army issue the medals and documents, Stewart contacted Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon.

"I went to Rick Boucher ... boy, I'll tell you what, he got it for me."

So Stewart has finally received his missing Purple Heart and the documentation for his silver Star. He notes with a chuckle that his a form accompanying the medals had been tagged "Congressional Interest," and this may have gotten the army's attention.

"I tell you, it's been a long time coming."

Pamela Cadmus has won the Montgomery County Supervisors' Award for Creativity and Excellence.

Cadmus is head of the Blacksburg branch of the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library and was lauded for her efforts during the renovation of the library and for many other services to library patrons.

She has worked for the regional library system for 18 years and has helped increase the Floyd library and find funding for a bookmobile.

In 1994, Cadmus accepted her current position at the Blacksburg library. Regional library interim director Jo Brown credits Cadmus for doing a great job keeping up morale during the sometimes-painful construction. Brown says Cadmus has also worked hard to plan and implement staff development.

The New River Valley Agency for Persons with Mental Retardation/Leisure Directions held its first-ever Sweetheart Dance in February. This is one of many activities the organization sponsors each year. Knights of Columbus, Council for Exceptional Children, Wal-Mart of Pulaski, Sal's Restaurant and Jebo & Turk Law Offices helped make the event possible.

Kappa Delta Sorority held a concert March 20 to raise money for the Virginia Chapter of the National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse. The event is part of Kappa Delta's national Shamrock fund-raising effort in which collegiate and alumni members have raised more than $3.1 million since 1984. Most of the proceeds will benefit the state chapter while the rest will go to the national organization.

LENGTH: Medium:   67 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  1. ALAN KIM/THE ROANOKE TIMES. Pamela Cadmus, head of 
          the Blacksburg branch of the Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library, was 
          lauded for her efforts during the renovation of the library. 2. 
          Medals were a long time coming for Christiansburg's Denver Stewart. 
          color.