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THE MEDAL |
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THE CONVENTION |
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NEWS |
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THE LEADERSHIP |
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THE TEAM |
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CONTACT | |
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THE MEDAL OF HONOR"No amount of money, power or influence can buy one's rite of passage to this exclusive circle, and unlike almost any other organization, this group's members hope that there will be no more inductees. —Congressional Medal of Honor Society's Internet Site (www.cmohs.org) The Medal of Honor is the highest military award America bestows on an individual for valor in combat against an enemy force. Often referred to as the Congressional Medal of Honor, it is awarded by Congress and usually presented by the President of the United States in a White House ceremony. The Medal of Honor epitomizes the very best of America and the courageous men who earned it. These living honorees represent all races, social classes, educational and economic strata, and nearly every state. They are emblematic of America's ideals of courage, sacrifice and patriotism. In fact, our nation's respect for the Medal of Honor is so solemn that each recipient receives a salute from the President of the United States as well as members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. These Medal holders are the bravest of the brave. The Medal of Honor has no equal. Earned by few and revered by millions, it stands alone in prestige and reverence. Behind the Medal of Honor are extraordinary courageous acts, performed by common men with uncommon valor. Throughout history since the Civil War, less than 3,500 Americans have received this honor. Fewer than 110 recipients are alive today. It is a rare privilege to see more than a photo of our nation's honorees. Most of America's 19 million veterans have never actually seen the Medal itself. Sadly, few of our country's youth actually know of the Medal or understand its significance. Now, as the inescapable grip of mortality takes its toll on these aging heroes, each is keenly aware of the Medal of Honor's reverence, its legendary symbolism and its place in history. They wear it with great humility and are ever mindful of the cost of freedom, paid for by the blood and lives of their brothers and sisters in uniform. For this reason, these noble men devote much of their remaining days to ensure that the torch of freedom is passed to America's youth. These vigilant patriots are the embodiment of the American spirit and espouse the highest ideals of our great nation-service above self. In their hearts, these recipients believe that ordinary Americans have the potential to challenge fate and change the course of history. And the mark of a true hero, they say, is to have the moral courage to do what needs to be done because it is the right thing to do. |
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