DUNKIRK – McClurg Museum curator John Paul Wolfe may have thrown a Hail Mary pass with little chance of succeeding, but that pass actually defied the odds. Now, a California family with close ties to the museum in Westfield will receive the Medal of Honor on behalf of a Civil War hero from Fredonia.

President Barack Obama on Thursday will posthumously bestow America’s highest military distinction to First Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing during a ceremony at the White House, according to a release from the press secretary’s office.

While the White House early last week announced Cushing’s first cousins three times removed, Frederic Stevens Sater of New York City and Frederic Cushing Stevens III of Georgia, would accept the medal, Cushing’s first cousin twice removed, 85-year-old Helen Bird Loring Ensign, and her family will be the ones to actually join Obama in Washington, D.C. to commemorate Cushing’s “example of selfless service and sacrifice.”

“I am just in shock that it actually happened for the Loring family,” Wolfe remarked after hearing the news. “(U.S.) Sen. Charles Schumer and his aide, Jordan Nicholson, are the individuals responsible for getting the Pentagon to listen to the facts. I can’t believe it, but I have been invited to attend the ceremony at the White House – a once-in-a-lifetime event for me.

“It’s pretty exciting – and such a surprise. I did not expect it and this all happened so quickly (over the course of two days).”

Wolfe recently had the opportunity to discuss the Cushing medal with Schumer when the senator visited the Grape Discovery Center in Westfield to announce a push to lower an Israeli tariff on American grape juice.

He briefly explained to Schumer that the White House would be giving the medal to the wrong people, as it must go to the closest living blood relative, namely Loring Ensign. Schumer then told Wolfe he would get in touch with his contacts at the Pentagon to set the record straight and begin the U.S. Army’s verification process for Loring Ensign.

“The Lorings, who are the other people on the other side (of the lineage), are closer by one removal,” Wolfe said. “They’re connected through (Alonzo’s mother) Mary Barker Cushing’s sister, Margaret Loring. Jessica Loring, who is the one I’ve been working with, is three times removed, so she’s in the line too, equal to (the two men the White House initially announced would be receiving the medal).”

The Lorings have donated many items and documents to the McClurg Museum in the past, including letters Alonzo Cushing wrote to his Aunt Margaret. Wolfe said the family has indicated to him that they would like the Medal of Honor to be on display in the museum for people from the local area to see, at least for some period of time. They would also like to bring it to Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, where Cushing was killed, and Delafield, Wis., where Cushing was born.

“I think it’s great that they’ve finally been able to determine who they feel is the closest relative,” Pomfret Town Historian Todd Langworthy said. “And it’s nice to have this closure for both historians and the communities involved, (who) will be able to say, ‘This well-deserved medal is finally going to be awarded to a family member.’

“Hopefully we’ll be able to work with them (the Lorings) to do something nice in his hometown of Fredonia so we can honor Lon’s memory and celebrate what he did for our country.”

Schumer said in a statement Saturday night that he was glad he was able to assist.

“Alonzo Cushing was an incredibly brave soldier and I am pleased this valiant Fredonian is finally getting the recognition he deserves. I am honored to have been able to help his family be part of such a special ceremony at the White House, and that the family has chosen to display the medal right here in Chautauqua County.”

Speculation surrounding the closest blood relative previously swarmed over a more local connection to Alonzo Cushing, Dr. Brian Cushing of Williamsville, an eighth cousin three times removed. However, the U.S. Army deemed his relation too distant to receive the Medal of Honor.

Brian did request to attend the D.C. ceremony, Langworthy noted, though it is unclear if he will be going.

Along with Wolfe, another local person that will be going is Fredonia Mayor Stephen Keefe, who received an invitation to represent Fredonia at the ceremony with his wife Janet. They will also attend a separate ceremony for Alonzo Cushing’s medal at the Pentagon.

Keefe noted he will extend his own invitation to the Lorings to visit Fredonia for a local ceremony. That same message will also be given to any other members of the Cushing lineage.

“I’m looking at having a celebration in Fredonia for the third and fourth of July of next year,” Keefe said. “I’m hoping to have a 21-gun salute and a recognition of his death and accomplishments, and hopefully have a parade with some reenactors, the ROTC, Boy Scouts and all the military people, just have as many people there as possible to show their respect.”

The long wait for Cushing’s medal – 151 years – may have in part been due to the fact that his family did not really push for it; he did not have any direct descendants, with his closest being two nieces who never had children. A lot of his immediate family, including most of his brothers, died young like he did.

Cushing, who died at age 22, moved to Fredonia from Delafield at age 5. He commanded about 110 men and six cannons on July 3, 1863 during his final stand defending the Union against Pickett’s Charge on Cemetery Ridge during the pivotal and bloody Battle of Gettysburg.

In August, Obama approved the Medal of Honor after Congress granted a special exemption last December

Cushing has waited the longest out of any American to receive the medal.

According to a statement from the White House announcing the medal, “Refusing to evacuate to the rear despite his severe wounds, he directed the operation of his lone field piece continuing to fire in the face of the enemy. With the rebels within 100 yards of his position, Cushing was shot and killed during this heroic stand. His actions made it possible for the Union Army to successfully repulse the Confederate assault.”