Brig. Gen. Wayne A. Wright, Virginia Air National Guard

Brig. Gen. Wayne A. Wright, Virginia Air National Guard chief of staff, presents the Virginia Distinguished Service Medal to the family of 1st Lt. Thomas McNeill Bulla, chaplain, in a ceremony Oct. 17 at the First Presbyterian Church in Emporia 93 years after he died from combat wounds in World War I. The Virginia Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team performed honors by providing a rifle volley, the playing of taps and the folding of the flag and its presentation. Bulla served in 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in France and was helping wounded soldiers when he was struck by enemy fire Oct. 15, 1918. He was evacuated to an Army hospital and died of wounds Oct. 17. Bulla never received any recognition by the Army for his sacrifice to save others, and he will be the 61st recipient of the VDSM. The VDSM is the highest decoration the Commonwealth of Virginia can award. It is exclusively intended for the recognition of the highest standards of dedicated service to the Virginia National Guard or to those in command of members of the Virginia National Guard in war and is rarely presented. The sole authorizing agent for this award is the Adjutant General of Virginia.