At the beginning of March, Medal of Honor Recipients gathered at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to ring the Closing Bell, marking another milestone in this meaningful tradition. For over 230 years, the NYSE has supported veterans, fostered veteran-owned businesses, and played a pivotal role in military events and Veterans Day observances. This enduring partnership with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society has resulted in more than 20 occasions of Medal of Honor Recipients ringing the iconic NYSE Bell.
The bell symbolizes more than just a market moment; it embodies the values of resilience, determination, and the spirit of daily service. For Medal of Honor Recipients, it serves as a tribute to their extraordinary service and a reminder that their legacy continues to inspire and shape our nation at its most pivotal intersections.
Each year, Medal of Honor Recipients gather at Arlington National Cemetery for one of the most significant and solemn traditions marking the occasion. During this annual ceremony, they will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, paying tribute to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation.
This act of remembrance serves not only to honor those who gave their lives but also as a powerful symbol of the enduring legacy of courage, sacrifice, and valor that continues to shape our nation’s freedom. As one of the most meaningful activations on National Medal of Honor Day, this tradition reinforces the deep respect and gratitude we owe to those who have served, while ensuring their extraordinary sacrifices are never forgotten.
The Medal of Honor Recipients do not believe it is necessary to wear a uniform to serve or sacrifice for others. The principles behind the Medal are relevant to all Americans–courage, sacrifice, integrity, commitment, patriotism, and citizenship.
On National Medal of Honor Day, the Recipients put this belief into action through the Society’s annual Citizen Honors Awards. This program was created to allow Medal of Honor Recipients to shine a spotlight on fellow citizens in recognition of the sacrifices they have made and the service they have carried out on behalf of others. Every year, the Society accepts submissions from across the country, and a panel including Medal of Honor Recipients select the honorees.
Learn more about the Citizen Honors Awards and see the past honorees.
Each year on National Medal of Honor Day, a special ceremony is held at the USS Yorktown, home to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Headquarters and the Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point in South Carolina.
Visitors to Patriots Point can learn about the Medal of Honor and its recipients through guided tours, interactive exhibits, and Medal of Honor information checkpoints. These experiences provide a deeper understanding of the extraordinary courage and selflessness that define the Medal of Honor. The USS Yorktown stands as a powerful tribute to these heroes, preserving their legacy for generations to come.
Medal of Honor Recipients will commemorate National Medal of Honor Day not only through solemn remembrance but also through meaningful engagement with communities across the country. As part of this outreach, they will share their stories and the significance of the Medal with students, veterans, and leaders from all walks of life.
In years past, Recipients have visited schools in the Washington, D.C., area to inspire and educate students with firsthand accounts of bravery and service. They have spent time at VA facilities, connecting with fellow veterans and offering words of encouragement and gratitude. Additionally, they have participated in public panel discussions, sharing their experiences and reinforcing the importance of selfless service.
Through these engagements, Medal of Honor Recipients will continue to bring the legacy of the Medal to life, ensuring its powerful message reaches future generations and reminding all Americans of the extraordinary sacrifices made in defense of our nation.
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is honored to recognize American Airlines as the key sponsor of the Medal of Honor March 2025. As a longtime partner to the Society, American Airlines has played a vital role in ensuring the legacy of the Medal of Honor reaches every corner of our nation.
This dedication to honoring service is exemplified through Flagship Valor, a specially designed Airbus A321 that stands as a soaring tribute to Medal of Honor Recipients.
More than just an aircraft, Flagship Valor continues to be a tremendous resource for Recipients, having recently delivered them to Washington, D.C., for the 2025 Presidential Inauguration, to New York City for the Foundation’s 17th Circle of Honor Dinner at the New York Stock Exchange, and soon lifting them once again to the nation’s capital for the annual Citizen Honors Awards and National Medal of Honor Day activations.
[Narrator] The Medal of Honor, the United States' highest award for valor in combat, fewer than 3,600 of the over 41 million who have served in the armed forces of the United States have been honored to wear the medal for actions above and beyond the call of duty. It embodies the sacrifices of all our service members, the history of our armed forces and the values that have shaped the nation over the centuries: courage, commitment, integrity, sacrifice, citizenship, and patriotism.
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[Narrator] Early in the Civil War, the Union suffered some humiliating defeats, and the military needed a way to maintain moral and make an example of those who performed their duties heroically. So legislation was introduced for a valor award in the Navy, and on December 21, 1861, the Navy Medal of Honor was born. Similar legislation was introduced for the Army two months later, and it was signed into law on July 12, 1862. The design of the medal may have changed over time, but it has always taken cues from the purpose, strength, and bravery of the individuals who wear it.
Today, the Navy's Medal of Honor features the initial Civil War design of Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and war, representing the United States. She is shown fighting discord, the embodiment of the nation's enemies. The Army's design has a simple profile of Minerva's head surrounded by a green wreath of laurel and oak leaves, representing victory and strength. The iconic light blue ribbon with 13 white stars, now used by all the branches of the service, was first adopted by the Army in 1904.
The US Air Force's Medal of Honor keeps the laurel and oak leaves of the Army medal, but Minerva's head is replaced with a profile of Lady Liberty. During the last half of the 19th century and through the 20th century, the Medal of Honor's requirements were refined and cemented by Congress and the military. As a result, each Medal of Honor recommendation undergoes a scrupulous examination and documentation process under a deadline, ensuring that evidence is obtained in an expedient manner and that valorous actions are quickly recognized and celebrated.
Although medals were initially shunned by the Founding Fathers as the trappings of monarchy, the Medal of Honor embodies the spirit of the revolution, that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. For those service members who have received a medal, it is a recognition from their country that we honor their selfless, extraordinary heroism and risk of life for us on the battlefield. And for the average citizen, it is a reminder of the courage, commitment, integrity, sacrifice, citizenship, and patriotism that has gone into protecting and providing for our nation and our freedom.
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Learn more about the highest award for military valor in action.
The Medal of Honor is the United States’ highest award for military valor in action and was first signed into law in 1861 during the Civil War. The Medal is a distinguished award, presented to those who have shown gallantry and intrepidity, at the risk of their lives, above and beyond the call of duty.
Out of the 41 million who have served in the U.S. military, the Medal has been presented to only 3,528 service members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty, each of whom can be researched in the Medal of Honor Recipient database located here.
Chartered by Congress in 1958, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s membership is limited to those who wear the Medal of Honor — to those who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. The Society reflects their dedication to courage, sacrifice, integrity, commitment, patriotism, and citizenship that makes our nation great. There are 61 living Medal of Honor Recipients whose acts of military valor were performed during the following conflicts: World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the War on Terrorism. The Society and The Medal of Honor Museum are located on the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
The Medal of Honor Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit established in 1999 to advance the mission and provide a path for financial support of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is the only organization Chartered by Congress to support Recipients. Although the Medal of Honor traces its origins back to 1861, it wasn’t until 1958 that Congress and President Eisenhower chartered a specific organization to address the work and well-being of Recipients. The Society and Foundation rely solely on private philanthropy – gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations – and receive no government funding. The Foundation is a 4-Star Rated Charity as rated by Charity Navigator. You can help “Honor the Sacrifce; Inspire the Future” through our secure Medal of Honor Foundation Donor Perfect page here.