Congressional Medal of Honor Society
MEDAL OF HONOR DAY
HONORING SERVICE AND SACRIFICE
MEDAL OF HONOR DAY: INSPIRE THE FUTURE
March 25 was established by Congress as National Medal of Honor Day to “foster public appreciation and recognition of Medal of Honor recipients.”
As the Congressionally chartered organization for the 65 living Medal of Honor Recipients, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society is grateful for the nation honoring the 3,516 Recipients who have received the Medal since the Civil War. Yet we are most appreciative of the opportunity it offers to reinforce what this day means to us.
To its Recipients, the Medal of Honor represents more than recognition of combat actions. Instead, it symbolizes the sacrifices of those we served alongside and those who came before us. Each year on this day, Medal of Honor Recipients lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. The “unknowns” buried here are each Medal of Honor Recipients.
CITIZEN HONORS AWARDS
While we honor fellow veterans, we do not believe it is necessary to wear a uniform to serve or sacrifice for others and that the principles behind the Medal are relevant to all Americans–courage, sacrifice, integrity, commitment, patriotism, and citizenship. This is why our mission is to share the stories of the Medal to servicemembers, students, veterans and members of the public.
One way that we do this is through our annual Citizen Honors Awards. This program was created 15 years ago to allow Medal of Honor Recipients to shine a spotlight on our fellow citizens in recognition of the sacrifices they have made and the service they have carried out on behalf of others. As is our tradition, we will take the opportunity on National Medal of Honor Day to notify a new group of honorees that they have been selected to be honored by our organization.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MEDAL OF HONOR
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about the Medal of Honor and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Please visit our extensive website to read about the 3,516 Medal of Honor Recipients in our database, the history of the Medal, our outreach and education initiatives and to browse our video library.
Video Library
View Video LibraryJames Taylor: Dear Young American, “Stand Up & Go Forth”
James Taylor, Medal of Honor Recipient, speaks to America’s youth. Film by the Military Times.
Introduction to the Citizen Honors Awards
Whether they happen in a single instance of bravery or through continued service to others, acts of courage and self-sacrifice symbolize the American spirit—and are recognized every year by our nation’s greatest heroes, the Medal of Honor Recipients, through the Citizen Honors Awards.
Citizen Honors – Jennifer DeLuca, 2023 Service Act Award
Jennifer DeLuca is known as a visionary who has used her understanding of the veteran community, as well as the private, public, and political sectors, to make a positive impact on the lives of veterans and their families. She has done so through various acts of kindness and spearheading the creation of unique programs for Fisher House of Boston, where she is the Executive Director. She embodies the Fisher House of Boston mission “to ease the burden of military veterans and their families during illness or injury” and goes above and beyond for our military and their families. Jennifer’s service reflects favorably on her, her family, and people across the nation.
Every year since 2007, a nationwide search is conducted to select five United States citizens and one organization to receive the Citizen Honors Awards. The Awards are one of the numerous ways the Congressional Medal of Honor Society fulfills its mission to promote the values embodied by the Medal: courage, sacrifice, integrity, commitment, patriotism, and citizenship.
MEDAL OF HONOR FACTS AND FAQS
Learn more about the highest award for military valor in action.
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What is the medal of honor?
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.
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How many Medal of Honor Recipients are there?
Out of the 41 million who have served in the U.S. military, the Medal has been presented to only 3,511 service members who went above and beyond the call of duty, each of whom can be researched in the Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient database located here. Among these Recipients, 19 are double awardees, which means that there have been 3,530 Medals of Honor awarded.
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Who is the Congressional Medal of Honor Society?
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 66 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 its Recipient’s Medal of Honor Museum are located on the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.
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How to support the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Preservation, Education, Outreach and Support programs
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.