Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force, which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the United States military. To receive this rare honor, the President of the United States must approve it after a long and rigorous consideration process, and then the President presents it personally to the recipient in the name of Congress. Since the birth of our nation over 40 million Americans have faced combat, yet fewer than 3,500 have received our nation’s highest honor for combat – the Medal of Honor.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, comprised solely of living Medal of Honor recipients, is recognized as the most exclusive organization in the United States. There are currently fewer than 90 members.

This year, 2011, marks the 150^th anniversary of the establishment of the Medal of Honor, which, President Abraham Lincoln enacted by signing, S. No. 82, into law in 1861.  With that enactment, the first 200 such medals were authorized.  The Medal is our nation’s highest award for military valor, and its monumental anniversary represents 150 years of courage and sacrifice on the part of the millions of men and women who defended our freedoms in uniform.

For more information on the Medal of Honor, visit www.cmohs.org.