Editing George Dewey (section)

==Hero==
[[File:George Dewey calendar cover cph.3g09041.jpg|thumb|Dewey on the cover of an 1899 souvenir calendar]]
Dewey was promoted to rear admiral in May 1898, and full admiral the following year. Returning to the United States on September 27, 1899, Dewey received a hero's welcome. New York City's September 1899 welcome-home celebration for Dewey was a two-day parade. When Boston paid tribute, he was greeted at [[Old City Hall (Boston)|City Hall]] by 280 singers from the [[Handel and Haydn Society]] who sang the anthem "See the Conquering Hero Comes" from Handel's ''[[Judas Maccabaeus (Handel)|Judas Maccabaeus]]''.<ref name="2HOFj" /> By act of [[United States Congress|Congress]], he was promoted to the special rank of [[Admiral of the Navy]] in 1903, with his date of rank retroactive to 1899.<ref name=":0" />

A special [[Awards and decorations of the United States military|military decoration]], the Battle of Manila Bay Medal (commonly called the [[Dewey Medal]]), was struck in honor of Dewey's victory at Manila Bay. It was awarded to every American officer, sailor, and Marine present at the battle. The medals were designed by [[Daniel Chester French]], sculptor of the [[Lincoln Memorial]], and produced by [[Tiffany & Co.]] of New York. Each medal was engraved with the recipient's name, rank, and ship. Since his own image appeared on the obverse of the medal, out of modesty, Dewey wore his medal reversed. Dewey was one of only four Americans in history (the other three being Admiral [[William T. Sampson]], Admiral [[Richard E. Byrd]], and General [[John J. Pershing]]) who were entitled to wear a US government-issued medal with their own image on it. Such was his high regard by the public that "Dewey" was the 19th most popular boys' name in 1898, jumping from 111th the year prior.<ref name="IWF2R" />

Shortly after the Battle of Manila Bay, on May 31, 1898, Dewey wrote to the Secretary of the Navy asking that 50 Chinese sailors who had served with the Asiatic Squadron at Manila Bay be allowed to enter the United States. In Dewey's letter he noted that the Chinese had "rendered the most efficient services upon that occasion" and that they had "shown courage and energy in the face of an enemy." At that time an immigration law, the 1882 [[Chinese Exclusion Act]], prohibited Chinese laborers from landing in the United States.<ref name="oTqNn" /> Dewey had enlisted the Chinese sailors against the wishes of the Navy Department and, despite his very public entreatment that they be granted US citizenship, Congress refused to even take up the issue.<ref name="emPqJ" />

On October 3, 1899, Dewey was presented a special sword by President McKinley in a ceremony at the Capitol building. The presentation of the sword was followed by a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue. Congress, by unanimous vote, had authorized $10,000 to fund the gift shortly after the Battle of Manila Bay. The elaborately decorated sword was custom-made by Tiffany & Co. Its hilt and fittings were made of 22 carat gold. The sword is now on display, along with uniforms and medals belonging to Admiral Dewey, at the [[National Museum of the United States Navy]] at the [[Washington Navy Yard]].<ref name="mJExX" />