National Medal of Honor Day on March 25 is dedicated to all Medal of Honor recipients.
The Medal of Honor
It was on March 25, 1863, when the first Medals of Honor were presented. Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton presented Medals of Honor (Army) to six members of “Andrews Raiders” for their volunteering and participation during an American Civil War raid in April of 1862.
Created in 1861, the Medal of Honor is the United States of America’s highest military honor. It is awarded only to US military personnel, by the President of the United States in the name of Congress, for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty.
Medal of Honor Today
There are three versions of the Medal of Honor; one for the Army, one for the Navy and one for the Air Force, with personnel of the Marine Corps and the Coast Guard receiving the Navy medal. Since its creation, there have been 3,468 Medals of Honor awarded to the country’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and coast guardsmen. It is not uncommon for the President of the United States to visit or gather MoH recipients to pay respects to their sacrifices. Visits to Arlington National Cemetery or similar facilities are also traditional ways of paying respects on March 25th.
Our Countries Greatest
Looking into the Medal of Honor, it is much more than just an award. It is often the toughest day and the worst day of an individuals life. The military members awarded this honor that live to tell the story are influential beyond all recognition. They fought in battle alongside brothers and sisters with families back home. They fought for our country as our best and bravest we have to offer. Today, we honor and thank our Medal of Honor recipients from every branch of service and the families and service members with them.
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