Our Citizen Honors Awards: Recognizing Those Who Serve Others
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s mission is to promote the legacy of the Medal and the values it stands for like courage and sacrifice. One way that we carry […]
Medal of Honor Day, held annually on March 25, provides an opportunity for Medal of Honor Recipients and the public alike to pause and reflect on the importance of service and sacrifice. National Medal of Honor Day was first observed on March 25, 1991, when Congress declared it as a day to “foster public appreciation and recognition of Medal of Honor Recipients.” The selected date has an important place in Medal of Honor history, as March 25, 1863, was the date of the first Medal of Honor presentation. On that day, Private Jacob Parrott became the first Recipient of the Medal of Honor. Parrott’s was one of six Medals of Honor presented that day to the Andrews Raiders, a group who showed the values of courage, commitment, sacrifice, integrity, commitment and patriotism which are still important to Recipients of the Medal of Honor today.
This year, Medal of Honor Recipients will spend several days participating in community outreach activities and events across the country, including a memorial service at the Medal of Honor Memorial in Indianapolis, IN, and a visit to Fort Belvoir in partnership with the USO. The activities will culminate on March 25 with celebrations in Washington, D.C., and Charleston, SC.
See below for all the details on the activities and events Recipients will be taking part in as part of Medal of Honor Day 2024, and discover ways that you can mark this important day along with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
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Stay tuned to our social media in the days leading up to Medal of Honor Day for a behind-the-scenes look at what the Medal of Honor Recipients are doing across the country.
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Celebrating Medal of Honor Day in New York City and Indianapolis
To kick off our Medal of Honor Day activities, a small group of Medal of Honor Recipients will be traveling to New York City. During their time there, the Recipients will ring the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on March 21st. This event will be live streamed starting at 4PM ET. In addition, these Recipients will spend time visiting community partners and key stakeholders in the area.
On March 22nd, several Medal of Honor Recipients will be gathering in Indianapolis, Indiana, where they will take part in the Medal of Honor Memorial 25th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony at 1:00pm ET. The ceremony will be streamed live on YouTube by the Indiana National Guard. While in Indianapolis, the Recipients will also participate in a panel discussion at Salesforce headquarters, including a visit with veteran employees of the company. To cap off the trip, the Recipients will be introduced on the court at halftime of the NCAA tournament game taking place the evening of March 22. Be sure to follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes photos of these trips.
Medal of Honor Day at Patriots Point
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society will also be recognizing National Medal of Honor Day at its headquarters onboard the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum. On March 24, from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, volunteers will be stationed around Patriots Point to share the stories of America’s greatest military heroes. Hear about how artifacts are monuments connecting the past with the present. Buy your general admission ticket here. For a more in-depth and behind-the-scenes Medal of Honor experience, book an exclusive Medal of Honor Storytelling Tour the same day.
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On March 25 at 10am, a commemoration ceremony on the USS Laffey will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Laffey (named for Medal of Honor Recipient Bartlett Laffey) and the 161st anniversary of the awarding of the first Medal of Honor. Recipients will be in attendance to lay a wreath in honor of their fellow Recipients and service members. Visitors to Patriots Point are welcome to attend the ceremony. Admission tickets can be purchased here.
Please note The Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point won’t be open this year for Medal of Honor Day, as it is currently undergoing a $3 million transformation, but stay tuned for exciting updates and the reveal of the reimagined space in May 2024.
Medal of Honor Day in Washington, DC
In keeping with tradition, Medal of Honor Recipients will be marking Medal of Honor Day in Washington, D.C. During their time in the capital, Recipients will participate in community events, including a visit to the USO Warrior & Family Center at Ft. Belvoir and a panel discussion in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs featuring Medal of Honor Recipients Britt Slabinski, Barney Barnum and Ryan Pitts. Moderated by VA Deputy Secretary Tanya Bradsher, the panel is entitled “Honor the Sacrifice: A Fireside Chat to Inspire the Future,” and will be livestreamed for the public on March 25, 2024, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. ET.
Each year on National Medal of Honor Day, the Recipients lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. The “unknowns” buried there are each Medal of Honor Recipients. The Society takes part in this ceremony to honor the sacrifices of all veterans. Members of the public in Arlington National Cemetery at 2pm on March 25 are invited to watch the ceremony.
Citizen Honors Awards
The 2024 Citizen Honors Awards will be presented the evening of March 25 in Washington, DC. The individuals and organizations set to receive these prestigious awards were selected because they exhibit the Medal of Honor values in everyday life. By showing courage in harrowing moments and demonstrating commitment to others above self, the Citizen Honors Awardees provide an exceptional example of what the Medal of Honor Recipients hope all Americans strive toward.
You can learn more about the Citizen Honors Awards, explore the stories of previous honorees, and check out this year’s finalists. And check back to see the final selections for the 2024 honorees. You can also take action in your own community by connecting with organizations we have honored in the past or by nominating someone who you believe we should recognize in 2025.
Medal of Honor Summit
On March 26, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society will host the first ever Medal of Honor Summit, bringing together more than twenty-five organizations. The goals of the Summit are to cultivate a culture of collaboration between Medal of Honor organizations, conduct a thorough analysis of resource needs across the Medal of Honor community, formulate strategic approaches to secure these essential resources, and uncover emerging opportunities to promote Medal of Honor values nationally and locally. The Society is looking forward to hosting this historic gathering and collaborating with other organizations from around the country.
Engage with the Stories of The Medal of Honor Recipients
To honor the Medal of Honor Recipients wherever you are this National Medal of Honor Day, consider learning more about the Medal of Honor and those who have received it. Check out our recent blog post to find out more about the process of how the Medal of Honor is awarded. Browse our Recipient Database or our Video Library and share the stories of the Recipients on Medal of Honor Day. You can share our Recipient pages and our videos straight to your social media platforms using the Share button. Be sure to tag us!
Follow Along with Us
Stay tuned to our social media in the days leading up to Medal of Honor Day for a behind-the-scenes look at what the Medal of Honor Recipients are doing across the country.
Facebook: @CMOHSociety
Instagram: @cmohsociety
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About the Congressional Medal of Honor Society
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Medal of Honor (the United States’ highest award for military valor in action) and its Recipients, inspiring Americans to live the values the Medal represents, and supporting Recipients as they connect with communities across America. Chartered by Congress in 1958, the Society’s membership consists exclusively of those individuals who have received the Medal of Honor.
The Society carries out its mission through outreach, education, and preservation programs, including the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, Citizen Honors Awards, and The Medal of Honor Museum. As part of Public Law 106-83, the Medal of the Honor Memorial Act, The Medal of Honor Museum, which is co-located with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s headquarters on board the U.S.S. Yorktown at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, was designated as one of three national Medal of Honor sites.
The Society’s programs and operations are fully funded by generous donors.
Learn more about the Medal of Honor and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s initiatives at cmohs.org.