The gripping WWII drama Hacksaw Ridge tells the extraordinary true story of American Army medic Desmond Doss, who saved the lives of 75 men during the war’s bloodiest battle, the Battle of Okinawa, without firing a single shot or even carrying a gun. Doss is the first conscientious objector ever to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. On Feb. 7, his birthday, Doss was honored by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the largest animal rights organization in the world, with a posthumous Hero to Animals Award for including animals in his legendary views on nonviolence by embracing a vegetarian diet.
PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews presented the Friend to Animals award on Desmond T. Doss’s birthday, Feb. 7, at the Desmond T. Doss Christian Academy.
PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews presented the award at the Desmond T. Doss Christian Academy (Lynchburg, Va.) in front of the student body. Principal Steve Doss gratefully accepted it in the school namesake’s honor.
“I’m honored to receive this award on behalf of Desmond,” said Principal Doss. “In the movie, Desmond is in the middle of battle, in the most heinous conditions, and hands his meat products to another solider. The solider asks why he doesn’t want it and Desmond responds with ‘I don’t eat meat.’ I think that shows just how Desmond lived his life and was always true to who he was. That’s a lesson to all of us at Desmond T. Doss Christian Academy–to always honor your conviction and don’t let other people or conditions make you compromise.”
Written by Michelle Kretzer and Tiffany Doss
Parital story taken from peta.org
