The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government.
It is bestowed by the United States Congress on members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States." Read more
Medal of Honor Fact Sheet
Medal of Honor Statistics
Types of Medals
The Medal of Honor has evolved in appearance since its creation in 1862. The present Army medal consists of a gold star surrounded by a wreath, topped by an eagle on a bar inscribed with the word "Valor." The medal is attached by a hook to a light blue moiré silk neckband. There is a version of the medal for each sub-cabinet component of the Department of Defense: the Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, and Department of the Air Force. Read more
Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addresses audience members at a ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes, Washington, D.C., March 25, 2011. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
Medal of Honor recipient Walter Ehlers, left, Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler, center, and Army Gen. Peter Chiarelli, U.S. Army vice chief of staff, pray during the benediction of a ceremony in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes, Washington, D.C., March 25, 2011. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
Retired Air Force Col. Leo K. Thorsness, center, Congressional Medal of Honor Society president, speaks with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, left, and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at a ceremony honoring the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes, Washington, D.C., March 25, 2011. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
Medal of Honor recipient Richard Pittman, far left, stands at attention during the playing of the Service Medley at a ceremony honoring the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes in Washington, D.C., March 25, 2011. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation today on Medal of Honor Day announced and nationally honored the Citizen Service Before Self Honors recipients for 2011. After a nationwide search and selection process, three Americans have been selected for their selflessness and indomitable courage. The three unsung heroes are:
“As true heroes among us, these three remarkable recipients epitomize the Citizen Service Before Self Honors concept of ‘service before self’ and are truly deserving of this award. Their actions are an inspiration to Americans everywhere.”
Timothy Brooks of Philadelphia, Pa. for valiantly rescuing a woman and her three children who were stranded in the Delaware River after their tour boat collided with a barge and sank on July 7, 2010;
Marie Conley of Boston, Mass. for sacrificing her life to save a young boy by shielding him with her own body from a car that was barreling towards him on October 21, 2008; and,
Dr. Pascal Spino of Greensburg, Pa. for a lifetime’s commitment to treating children, often not charging those who cannot afford healthcare and saving tens of thousands of lives.
The 2011 Citizen Service Before Self Honors recipients were recognized by our nation’s most honored heroes, the fewer than 90 living Medal of Honor recipients, in the shadow of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va.
General James F. Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, made special remarks, and Major Garrett, Congressional Correspondent for National Journal emceed the ceremony.
"I, along with all of the living Medal of Honor recipients, salute Timothy Brooks, Marie Conley and Dr. Pascal Spino, for their selfless acts," said Leo Thorsness, President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and a Foundation board member. “As true heroes among us, these three remarkable recipients epitomize the Citizen Service Before Self Honors concept of ‘service before self’ and are truly deserving of this award. Their actions are an inspiration to Americans everywhere.”
Photo credit: Arlington National Cemetery @ArlingtonNatl
Adm. Mike Mullen speaks in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor.
Thirty of the 85 living recipients of the Medal of Honor, along with their families, joined the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and senior service leaders in the Pentagon’s Hall of Heroes, where their names are engraved on wall hangings among the 3,454 recipients. Today’s military leaders thanked the veterans for their service -- most rendered decades ago -- while an Army band played military marches, “America the Beautiful” and other patriotic songs before the ceremony.
“For those of us who serve, and have had the opportunity to meet many of you, we marvel at your service, marvel at your dedication, and marvel at your caring,” said Mullen, who stood nearby U.S. and service-branch flags and over-sized replicas of the Navy, Army and Air Force versions of the medal.
The Medal of Honor recipients serve as mentors to the nation’s service members and are a bridge between the military and civilian communities, Mullen said. “Your help in connecting us to the American people is a very important endeavor,” he said.
Mullen called the characteristics that embody the medal recipients -- honor, sacrifice, and service -- “iconic and quintessentially American.” President Abraham Lincoln sought and received an act of Congress to create the Medal of Honor during the Civil War, Mullen said, noting the medal came from “one of the darkest chapters in American history, and from the man credited with saving” the United States.
The medal is “bestowed on the bravest of the brave for the most selfless and noble acts ever witnessed on the battlefield,” Mullen said. It is the most democratic of awards, he added, having no regard for rank, race or class of recipients. More than half of its recipients did not survive the battle for which it was earned, he said.
“These heroes -- and I do not use that word lightly -- have demonstrated how just one American can not only make a difference, but can often make history,” Mullen said.
“We give thanks that here, today, we live in a country where brave young Americans are still willing to give their all in defense of our nation,” the chairman said. He noted that the 10 years that today’s military has been at war is the longest period of war in American history.
The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation will host its 2011 Citizen Service Before Self Honors and American Spirit Award Ceremony nationally recognizing three recipients: Timothy Brooks of Philadelphia, Pa.; Marie Conley of Boston, Mass.; and, Dr. Pascal Spino of Greensburg, Pa. The recipients represent the values of courage, sacrifice and selfless service. At the ceremony, the Foundation will present the American Spirit Award to Jack Pape, a 17-year-old Boy Scout from Omaha, Neb. for his heroism.
The ceremony will occur in the shadow of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The Tomb represents the epitome of courage, sacrifice and selflessness in service to our nation. The ceremony will be held at 2:45 p.m. EDT on Friday, March 25, 2025, following a Medal of Honor Day wreath laying ceremony. More than 30 Medal of Honor recipients will be in attendance.
The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation and Society today on Medal of Honor Day launched the 150th Anniversary of the Medal of Honor with a formal ceremony at the Hall of Heroes in the Pentagon. Admiral Mike G. Mullen, USN, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, hosted the ceremony. A select group of nearly 100 attended the historic ceremony, including senior military and spouses, civilian leaders, Pentagon officials, and more than 30 Medal of Honor recipients—those bestowed our nation’s highest award for military valor.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Medal of Honor, which President Abraham Lincoln signed into law in 1861. This monumental anniversary represents 150 years of courage and sacrifice on the part of the millions of men and women who have defended our freedoms in uniform. Throughout the year, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Foundation will host a series of events to celebrate and educate Americans about the Medal’s history, ideals and significance.
The Medal of Honor’s 150th Anniversary Ceremony included the President of the Medal of Honor Society Leo Thorsness, who talked about the significance of the Medal of Honor and how the Medal of Honor recipients had chosen to celebrate this milestone, as well as the day set aside to honor them. Leadership of each service branch spoke about their respective service’s history in relation to the Medal of Honor.
Program participants included Vice Admiral Dirk J. Debbink, Chief of Navy Reserve; General Peter W. Chiarelli, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army; Lieutenant General Willie J. Williams, USMC, Director of Marine Corps Staff; General Norton A. Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force; and, Vice Admiral John P. Currier, Chief of Staff, U.S. Coast Guard.
Today, March 25th, 2011 is National Medal of Honor Day.
2011 is also the year that marks the 150th 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 Navy medals were bestowed.
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.
Today at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC, Medal of Honor recipients will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in honor of all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country. They will also present Citizen Service Before Self Honors to three Americans who have demonstrated courage and selfless in their civilian lives similar to what the recipients did in combat. Medal of Honor recipients will present the American Spirit Award to an outstanding Boy Scout.
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.
There are currently 85 living recipients of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Of the 85 living recipients, 16 earned their Medals of Honor in World War II, 13 in the Korean War, 55 in the Vietnam War, and one in the War in Afghanistan. Five earned their medal while serving in the United States Air Force, 57 in the United States Army, 15 in the United States Marine Corps, and 8 in the United States Navy. The oldest recipient is Nicholas Oresko, aged 94, whereas the youngest is Salvatore Giunta, aged 26.
In the spirit of the brave service members, many of which were awarded the medal posthumously, the Department of defense presents the Pentagon Channel’s production “Souls of Valor" for National Medal of Honor day.
“Souls of Valor” is a one hour special produced by the Pentagon Channel . It is a tribute to three honorable “souls” who fought in three distinct battles, two in Afghanistan and one in Laos: Army Staff Sgt. Robert Miller, Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard Etchberger and Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta.
Army Sgt. John Mann is produced and hosted this special which showcases their heroic efforts and tells their individual stories of grace under pressure. It is not often that three servicemembers are presented this honor so close together in time.
Watch the full documentary on the Department of Defense website
See our previous articles about these three brave men:
The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation will present its American Spirit Award to Jack Pape, a 17-year-old Boy Scout from Omaha, Nebraska. Pape, a junior in high school, will be recognized for his heroic efforts in 2008 and 2009 during a variety of ceremonies Friday, March 25. The American Spirit Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate extraordinary skill, professionalism, and a spirit of excellence in a challenging situation.
Pape will be recognized for helping to provide first aid to Scouts injured during the tornado that struck Little Sioux Scout Ranch in 2008 and for administering CPR to a young boy who had stopped breathing while at a hotel swimming pool in 2009.
"When I first heard about the American Spirit Award, I was really surprised to be nominated," Pape said. "It seemed like kind of a big deal. I'm just a normal teenager. I was scared when I was faced with these situations but I didn't think about it. I just did what needed to be done. There wasn't really any other option."
"We are excited and honored to recognize Jack Pape with the American Spirit Award," said Gen. Nick Kehoe, president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. "Like so many of the youth in Boy Scouts of America, Jack truly embodies the values represented by the American Spirit Award and the Medal of Honor."
Pape and his family, parents Anne and Jerry Pape, will participate in the National Medal of Honor Day activities on March 25 at Arlington National Cemetery, where he will receive the American Spirit Award. In addition, Boys' Life magazine will feature Pape in an upcoming issue, and he will serve as an ambassador for the youth-focused publication throughout the remainder of its 100-year anniversary celebration.
“It's a huge honor,” Pape said Tuesday before catching a plane to Washington.
Pape said he was looking forward to meeting Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta, an Iowa native, at the ceremony.
Boys' Life magazine will feature Pape in a coming issue and he will serve as an ambassador for the publication, which celebrates its centennial this year.
Gov. Dave Heineman will proclaim that Friday is Jack Pape Day in Nebraska. And Pape will be recognized Tuesday during a special school assembly at Elkhorn Mount Michael.
Though Fort Myer is a small US Army post, adjacent the Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, across the Potomac River overlooking Washington, D.C ; it was home to many great Medal of Honor recipients and generals like Eisenhower, MacArthur and Bradley .
Author John Michael, a military historian and photographer, world renowned for his photographs of final honors at Arlington National Cemetery has dug back in time and sifted through thousands of photographs in many collections in order to “preserve the memory” of this national landmark’s first 100 years, in his new book, Images of America - Fort Myer “Preserving the memories so others will remember.”
Fort Myer was built in 1863 during the American Civil War. It was the site of the first flight of an aircraft at a military installation; even Orville Wright flew some exhibitions there. During World War I it was a staging area for many regiments and where French officers taught Americans about trench warfare.
Among Fort Myer's legacy are four Medal of Honor recipients that served at Fort Myer at one time or another:
Guy V. Henry Sr.
Brigadier General Guy V. Henry Sr. was a Post Commander of Fort Myer. He received the Medal of Honor on December 5, 2024
“On June 1, 1864,General Grant launched a fierce assault at Cold Harbor, Virginia, against the well entrenched and fortified Confederate forces under General Lee. On the first day of the battle at Cold Harbor, Colonel Guy Henry led the assaults of his brigade against the enemy's works, despite having his horse shot out from under him two times. He was one of eight men awarded the Medal of Honor for heroism on the first day of battle.”
Leonard Wood
Major General Leonard Wood was named Army Chief of Staff in 1910 by President Taft; he remains the only medical officer to have ever held that position.
“An 1883 Harvard Medical School graduate, he joined the Army as a contract physician. Taking part in the 1886 Geronimo expedition, he received the Medal of Honor for a heroic trek to obtain supplies and reinforcements. Wood commanded the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment (Rough Riders) during the Spanish-American War, with Theodore Roosevelt as second in command.”
MacArthur and Wainwright
General Jonathan Mayhew Wainwright IV was also a Fort Myer Post Commander.
He received the Medal of Honor as Ccommander of Allied forces in the Philippines at the time of their surrender to the Empire of Japan during World War II. “The final stand on beleaguered Corregidor, for which he was in an important measure personally responsible, commanded the admiration of the Nation's allies. It reflected the high morale of American arms in the face of overwhelming odds. His courage and resolution were a vitally needed inspiration to the then sorely pressed freedom-loving peoples of the world.”
Gen. MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and lived in Quarters One on Fort Myer.
He played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the Philippines Campaign. Arthur MacArthur, Jr., and Douglas MacArthur were the first father and son to each be awarded the medal.
Until now, little has been written about this US Army post noted for so many accomplishments and people that have had so much impact on the United States and the world.
John Michael’s book, Images of America - Fort Myer will be available on June 13, 2025 from Arcadia Publishing.
For information on the Collector’s Edition and pre-order please visit the Images of America- Fort Myer website.
The book is also available on Amazon here:
Fort Myer (Images of America) (Images of America Series)
In a recent Stars and Stripes article, More living Medal of Honor recipients on the way? Leo Shane III, mentions:
“More than 2 million troops have served in Afghanistan and Iraq over the last decade, but until now only one living servicemember has been recognized with the Medal of Honor for heroics in those wars. But Defense Department officials hinted this week that could change soon.”
In a prepared statement, the Honorable Clifford L. Stanley, Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) stated before the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee on March 17, 2011:
"The Department continues to work in concert with the Services to appropriately recognize and laud the accomplishments, both valorous and non-valorous, of our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen. In today’s all volunteer force, appropriately recognizing the accomplishments of our Service members, while simultaneously maintaining the time-honored prestige of our most revered military decorations, is fundamental to maintaining esprit-de-corps and a motivated force.
The Department is committed to recognizing the valorous acts of our Service men and women. The President of the United States awarded the Medal of Honor to U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Salvatore Guinta last November for his conspicuous gallantry during Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. The Department is diligently processing additional Medal of Honor nominations for the President’s consideration, including nominations for other living Service members. Additionally, the Department recently completed its review of the Medal of Honor award process as requested by the House Armed Services Committee.
According to Stars and Stripes:
"Last fall, Army Staff Sgt. Sal Giunta became the eighth person honored with the medal for the current wars, but the first living one to receive it. All of the previous seven were awarded to troops for actions that ultimately cost them their lives."
"Defense officials have been criticized for the lack of medals awarded in the current conflicts. For comparison, 248 Medals of Honor were awarded for heroism during the Vietnam War."
"Stanley did not offer any timeline or specifics on the future medal recipients to the committee, but did write that the department is committed to recognizing the heroic acts being performed by troops overseas.”
Remember our heroes.
National Medal of Honor Day on March 25th, 2011 Let us honor those who fought bravely and risked their lives to defend our freedom.
In a post on Power Line, Scott Johnson announced the publishing of a paperback edition of Surviving Hell: A POW'S Journeyby Medal of Honor recipient, Lt. Col. Leo Thorsness, an F-105 Thunderchief pilot during the Vietnam War.
All of Thorsness' missions were Wild Weasel Missions, sometimes called "Iron Hand Missions". The plane had a Trained Bear - an electronic warfare officer in the back seat, and as much state-of-the-art equipment that was available mounted in the two-seat F-105. Their job was to "seek and destroy" SAMs (Surface to Air Missile) sites.
“On April 19, 1967, Lieutenant Colonel Thorsness and his wingman attacked and silenced a surface-to-air missile site with air-to-ground missiles and then destroyed a second surface-to-air missile site with bombs. In the attack on the second missile site, Lt. Col. Thorsness' wingman was shot down by intensive antiaircraft fire, and the two crewmembers abandoned their aircraft"
"Lt. Col. Thorsness circled the descending parachutes to keep the crewmembers in sight and relay their position to the Search and Rescue Center."
"During this maneuver, a MIG-17 was sighted in the area. Lt. Col. Thorsness immediately initiated an attack and destroyed the MIG. Because his aircraft was low on fuel, he was forced to depart the area in search of a tanker. Upon being advised that two helicopters were orbiting over the downed crew's position and that there were hostile MlGs in the area posing a serious threat to the helicopters, Lt. Col. Thorsness, despite his low fuel condition, decided to return alone through a hostile environment of surface-to-air missile and antiaircraft defenses to the downed crew's position. As he approached the area, he spotted four MIG-17 aircraft and immediately initiated an attack on the MlGs, damaging one and driving the others away from the rescue scene. When it became apparent that an aircraft in the area was critically low on fuel and the crew would have to abandon the aircraft unless they could reach a tanker, Lt. Col. Thorsness, although critically short on fuel himself, helped to avert further possible loss of life and a friendly aircraft by recovering at a forward operating base, thus allowing the aircraft in emergency fuel condition to refuel safely.”
On April 30, 1967, while flying his ninety-third mission just seven shy of the 100 needed to go home, Maj. Leo Thorsness and his back seater, Harry Johnson, were shot down over North Vietnam.
They were captured and, as prisoners of war, joined the two airmen who Thorsness had directed rescue efforts for on April 19.Thorsness was captured by a mix of militia and regular army soon after arriving on the ground.
POW Leo Thorsness
He was in interrogation for nineteen days and eighteen nights, without sleep.
Of the beatings, Thorsness says, "Oftentimes they would take a fan belt, cut it in half, and beat you with it. It's like a rubber hose, but, unlike a hose, the fan belt is solid. Finally, after so much the mind begins to hallucinate and that saves the body. The pain dissolves and you can't feel it anymore.
After time in interrogation, Thorsness was put into a cell with another prisoner, and then into solitary. He was held six years.
The Medal of Honor was awarded by the United States Congress during his captivity, but not announced until his release in 1973 to prevent the Vietnamese from using it against Thorsness
Surviving Hell: A POW's Journey
“Surviving Hell: A POW'S Journey recounts a six-year captivity marked by hours of brutal torture. Thorsness describes how he and other American POWs strove to keep their humanity. Thrown into solitary confinement for refusing to bow down to his captors, for instance, he disciplined his mind by memorizing long passages of poetry that other prisoners sent him by tap code.
Filled with hope and humor, Surviving Hell is an eloquent story of resistance and survival. No other book about American POWs has described so well the strategies these remarkable men used in their daily effort to maintain their dignity.
With resilience and resourcefulness, they waged war by other means in the darkest days of a long captivity.”
Leo Thorsness from Congressional Medal of Honor on Vimeo.
Medal of Honor recipients from Idaho will be honored throughout the state with the naming of Highway 3 as North Idaho’s Medal of Honor Highway. Gov. Butch Otter recently signed Senate Bill 1050 designating the stretch of highway running from Interstate 90 near Rose Lake to Highway 12 near Spalding.
It was along that route in St. Maries, where World War II veteran and Medal of Honor recipient Vernon Baker lived last year until his death.
Veterans in other parts of the state will identify Medal of Honor highways in those areas.
Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls; Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene; and Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, were among those who supported the bill. Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Bernie Fisher, a Medal of Honor recipient from Kuna, attended the signing ceremony.
"We sponsored the legislation to not only give recognition to these valiant servicemen, but to also honor the thousands of military men and women who have made sacrifices to defend our freedoms and country," Henderson said.
Clinton and MOH Vernon Baker
Vernon Joseph Baker was a United States Army officer who received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in World War II. He was awarded the medal for his actions on April 5-6, 1945 near Viareggio, Italy, when he and his platoon killed 26 enemy soldiers and destroyed six machine gun nests, two observer posts and four dugouts.
In 1993, a study commissioned by the U.S. Army described systematic racial discrimination in the criteria for awarding medals during World War II. At the time, no Medals of Honor had been awarded to black soldiers who served in World War II. After an exhaustive review of files, the study recommended that several black Distinguished Service Cross recipients have their awards upgraded to the Medal of Honor. On January 13, 1997, President Bill Clinton awarded the medal to seven African American World War II veterans; Baker was the only recipient still living at the time.
Officials in northern Idaho also approved the naming of a road that runs parallel to U.S, Highway 95, Vernon J. Baker Boulevard after Baker in December 2010.
Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Bernie Fisher who was at the signing ceremony is the only Idahoan to have been bestowed the Medal of Honor for service in Vietnam, for leading a two-ship element of A-1 Skyraiders to the A Shau Valley on March 10, 1966.
Maj. Fisher observed a fellow airman crash land on the battle-torn airstrip. In the belief that the downed pilot was seriously injured and in imminent danger of capture, Maj. Fisher announced his intention to land on the airstrip to effect a rescue. Although aware of the extreme danger and likely failure of such an attempt, he elected to continue. Directing his own air cover, he landed his aircraft and taxied almost the full length of the runway, which was littered with battle debris and parts of an exploded aircraft. While effecting a successful rescue of the downed pilot, heavy ground fire was observed, with 19 bullets striking his aircraft. In the face of the withering ground fire, he applied power and gained enough speed to lift-off at the overrun of the airstrip. Citation
He is the first living Air Force Medal of Honor recipient, all others having been awarded posthumously, and the first member of the U.S. Air Force to be awarded the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War.
The private sector and veteran groups will pay for special signage that the Idaho Transportation Department will be erecting along the North Idaho Medal of Honor Highway to honor these Idahoans for their service to our nation in its armed forces.
According to a recent abc27 News report by Dennis Owens, Wait continues for Category 3 casino applicants, investors David LeVan and Joseph Lashinger Jr from the Eisenhower Resort and Convention Center who applied for a license with the Pennsylvania Gaming and Control Board to build a casino just 1/2 mile from the southern border of the Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg, PA will have to wait a little longer for a verdict given that two new board members must “wade through mounds of paperwork and reams of testimony.”
“Board members are typically mum about pending applications, but new member Keith McCall said he's already up to speed on the issues and the applicants. He knows where he'd like the new casino to go. He wouldn't tell abc27 News, but did say this about the No Casino Gettysburg protesters, some of whom were present at the board meeting in Harrisburg last week:
"Out of hand you just can't discount their concerns. We all know it and love it as hallowed ground so it certainly will weigh on the decision making process," McCall said.
A coalition of state and national preservation groups: the Civil War Preservation Trust, National Parks Conservation Association, National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preservation Pennsylvania conveyed to Adams County, Pa., businessman David LeVan their decision to oppose his effort to open a casino a half-mile to the south of Gettysburg National Military Park.
“Some places are just too important to be treated with anything less than the greatest respect, and Gettysburg is one of those places,” said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “Anyone who has visited the battlefield in recent years can attest to the fact that commercial development is threatening the visitor experience at Gettysburg, and this proposed casino would greatly exacerbate the problem. A new casino located so close to this sacred soil is simply unacceptable.”
Civil War Preservation Trust
The site is also within the historically sensitive “study area” of the battlefield, as defined by the American Battlefield Protection Program (the battlefield preservation arm of the National Park Service). It also lies along the Emmitsburg Road, at the heart of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Scenic Byway (created in October 2009) and Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area (signed into law in May 2008). Such designations are not undertaken lightly and, according to the letter, “reinforce our belief that this is a region of tremendous historic significance that we have a duty to safeguard for future generations.”
In 2005 and 2006 No Casino Gettysburg helped prevent the proposed “Crossroads” casino just one mile from the Gettysburg National Military Park.
Paul Bucha,Medal of Honor recipient from the Vietnam War and past President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society along with filmmaker Ken Burns, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author David McCullough and President Eisenhower’s granddaughter Susan Eisenhower released four videos to discuss their objections to the proposed Gettysburg casino (1/2 mile from the Gettysburg National Military Park).
This project is opposed by The National Trust for Historic Preservation, The Civil War Preservation Trust, The National Parks Conservation Association, The American Legion, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, and Preservation Pennsylvania, Governor Rendell, Governor-elect Tom Corbett, Veterans for Gettysburg, and numerous Adams county community groups.
Resources:
No Casino Gettysburg Network Wait continues for Category 3 casino applicants abc27 News Civil War Trust Information on how to show support by writing to Pennsylvania leaders and Gaming Board, petition information
On March 8th, 2011, State Senator Andy Dinniman announced that his legislation to designate a section of Route 23 as the Medal of Honor Grove Highway was approved by the Senate Transportation Committee.
“This is a great way to honor our veterans and to remind residents that the Medal of Honor Grove, a unique and historic memorial site, is located right here in Chester County.” Dinniman said.
The Medal of Honor Grove was established in 1964 as a memorial to the men and women who have received the Medal of Honor since the Civil War. On each state's acre, there is an obelisk patterned after the Washington Monument that has the state's seal, dedication plaque and a list of Medal of Honor recipients from that state. There is a steel marker with the name, rank, unit, date and place of action for each Medal of Honor recipient planted in the ground and placed on the acre. A tree was to be planted for each medal winner.
Outside of the Medal of Honor Museum, which is located on the USS Yorktown in Mount Pleasant, S.C., this is the only other memorial to all the Medal of Honor winners in the nation.
Dinniman became involved with efforts to restore and save the grove after it came to his attention that the site had been allowed to fall into disrepair and may be sold to a developer.
He said that designating the highway for the Medal of Honor Grove would be a fitting tribute to all Medal of Honor recipients, while helping raise awareness of the memorial site.
Dinniman said he was contacted by many people concerned that the Medal of Honor Grove was unimportant to the foundation and, in addition to not being properly maintained, was in danger of being sold.
“The Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge maintains the Medal of Honor Grove and has chapters in a number of areas around the United States that educate young Americans about America. For a number of years a few of these chapters have been complaining to the Board of Directors at Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge about the conditions at the Medal of Honor Grove.
A chapter in the mid-west offered to raise large sums of money to maintain the Grove, Charlestown Township offered to purchase the Grove and put it into perpetuity, but were turned down. A family of a Medal of Honor recipient wanted to replace the dead tree that was placed there in their son’s honor, but were refused permission. Approximately 12 or 14 men of the Military have earned the Medal of Honor in Iraq and Afghanistan and nothing has been placed in their honor at the Grove. There are also 4 men from the Civil War yet to be recognized. Members of their own Board have resigned as a result of the above actions.
It would appear that it is the attention of someone or persons to let the Grove deteriorate to the point where they would say it has to be sold. Senator Dinniman pointed out, if the States had known of these conditions, they would have gladly donated fifty thousand dollars to maintain the area.” AOH
Dinniman wrote to the foundation asking why the grove had been allowed to fall into disrepair.
The Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge in a July 30 open letter defended its actions in concentrating its financial resources on its educational mission rather than in maintaining the Medal of Honor Grove.
“We intend no disrespect to the Medal of Honor recipients; however, the cost of maintaining the 52 acres is huge and has been a struggle for some time,” wrote Michael Di Yeso, president and CEO of the Freedoms Foundation.
“When faced with the costs of educating young people versus the cost of maintaining the grove, we have been forced to make difficult decisions.”
Dinniman said he met with Di Yeso and other Freedoms Foundation board members July 29th, 2010.
In an interview regarding that meeting, Dinniman said he endeavored to point out to the men “that it would be inappropriate to diminish the significance of the grove to promote the education program.
“They seem to focus more on the educational mission rather than the grove.
“I said they are both intertwined and both part of the fiduciary responsibility of the Freedoms Foundation.”
"Despite claims from the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge that they weren’t trying to sell the Medal of Honor Grove, a review of minutes from the foundation’s board of directors’ meetings indicate they were actively pursuing a sale in 2008 and 2009."
"In fact, the board voted May 13, 2009, to enter into an agreement with Brandolini Companies LP to sell 50 acres of the 88-acre property, including most of the 52-acre Medal of Honor grove, for about $12 million. Two board members voted against it. Read more of the article on Daily Local News."
Dinniman organized three clean-up days for the grove and more than 1,000 volunteers participated.
The Freedoms Foundation also organized clean-up days and between the two, the grove has been restored. Medal of Honor recipients Joe Marm, Sammy Davis and Jim Livingston pitched in to help and to thank the volunteers for their time and efforts.
Chief Master Sergeant Richard Loy Etchberger was a non-commissioned officer in the United States Air Force who posthumously received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Battle of Lima Site 85 in the Vietnam War.
On Friday, March 11, 2011, the Air Force Memorial, overlooking Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., hosted an engraving ceremony honoring the late Medal of Honor recipient. His name is now on the Valor, Courage and Sacrifice Wall at the Air Force Memorial.
As a radar technician, he served at the summit of one of the tallest mountains in Laos, where he and a small team manned a radar station guiding American pilots in the air campaign against North Vietnam.
On March 11, 1968, the site came under attack from North Vietnamese soldiers. Chief Etchberger continued to direct air strikes and call for air rescue on his emergency radio, thus enabling the air evacuation force to locate their position. Etchberger tended to the wounded and fought off the advancing North Vietnamese troops until a rescue helicopter arrived.
Etchberger loaded his wounded men, one by one, each time exposing himself to enemy fire. But as the helicopter headed toward an air base in Thailand, an enemy soldier below fired into the underside of the aircraft, fatally wounding Etchberger. Of those 19 men on the mountain that night, only seven made it out alive. Three of them owed their lives to the actions of Chief Etchberger.
Etchberger was recommended for the Medal of Honor shortly after his death, but the nomination was rejected by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The Lima Site mission was still classified at the time, and the U.S. was not supposed to have soldiers in Laos. Etchberger was instead awarded the second highest decoration, the Air Force Cross. The cross was presented to his family during a secret ceremony at the Pentagon.
It was only after the Lima Site mission had been declassified fourteen years after Etchberger's death that his sons learned their father's true fate; they had previously been told that he died in a helicopter accident. In the early 2000s, veterans of the Air Force's 1st Combat Evaluation Group began requesting that Etchberger's Air Force Cross be upgraded to the Medal of Honor. The upgrade was approved by Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley in 2008, and by the U.S. Congress in 2009.
The medal was formally presented to his three sons by President Barack Obama during a ceremony at the White House on September 21, 2010.
From the speech:
"But the greatest memorial of all to Dick Etchberger is the spirit that we feel here today, the love that inspired him to serve -- the love for his country and love for his family. And the most eloquent expression of that devotion are the words he wrote himself to a friend back home just months before he gave his life to our nation.
"I hate to be away from home," he wrote from that small base above the clouds, "but I believe in the job." He said, "It is the most challenging job I'll ever have in my life." And then he added, "I love it."
Our nation endures because there are patriots like Chief Master Sergeant Richard Etchberger and our troops who are serving as we speak who love this nation and defend it. And their legacy lives on because their families and fellow citizens preserve it.
Ceremony photo credits: Air Force Memorial (Facebook)
Air Force Memorial Foundation
The National Medal of Honor Museum of Military History in Chattanooga, TN has an informative Education Module.
From the website:
The lesson plan provides a brief history of the Medal of Honor, an overview of the exhibits at the National Medal of Honor Museum, activity sheets for students visiting the museum, and post-visit classroom activities.
Although the lesson plan is intended to be presented in conjunction with a visit to the museum, it can be used to supplement normal instruction of state and U.S. History; or special instruction for National Medal of Honor Day.
From the Education Module:
“The following goals/standards are taken from National Social Studies and History Standards published by the National Council for the Social Studies. The teacher should develop specific classroom objectives based on their use of the material in this lesson plan. For example: (1) if an elementary class is studying the Civil War, specific classroom objectives could include the stories about local civil war heroes and battles; and (2) if a middle or high school class was studying racial prejudice, specific classroom objectives could include the stories of WW I and WW II African-American and Asian-American Medal of Honor recipients and how they were denied the medal until the George H. W. Bush and William Clinton presidencies.”
There are separate lesson plans for:
• Elementary School Students
• Middle School Students
• High School Students
• Scouts
• Adult Community Groups
National Medal of Honor Day is officially observed on March 25th. The Medal of Honor is the highest distinction that can be awarded by the President, in the name of the Congress, to members of the Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty.
“This holiday should be one of our most revered. Unfortunately all too many Americans are not even aware of its existence.” Home of Heroes
The date of March 25th was chosen because the first Medals of Honor were awarded to members of Andrew’s Raiders on March 25, 1863, for their actions during the “Great Locomotive Chase.”
Col. Robert Howard (USA Ret.) president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society on National Medal of Honor Day states:
“Hard times ask us to put a greater good before our own interests. It is sometimes physically or emotionally painful. Yet throughout history, you will find common men and women who fought selflessly in a variety of ways for something so much larger than just their own benefit.
Today, we’re fighting terrorism and the spread of tyranny. We’re challenged by market upheaval, joblessness and perhaps hunger. But the human spirit is resilient and can withstand more than sometimes we are able to immediately comprehend.
It’s up to each of us to not lay and wait for better days, but instead look for opportunities to make the lives of those around us better. National Medal of Honor Day is not a celebration. It is a solemn time to reflect on the freedom we enjoy, its price, and how our own bravery can improve the world around us.”
Home of Heroes, a premier resource of Medal of Honor information on the internet suggests:
"National Medal of Honor day is celebrated in some communities, however for the most part the occasion comes and goes with little notice. As a patriotic American there are a few things you can do to commemorate this day:
Fly your flag with pride and patriotism on this day.
Remember our heroes. As a gesture of your appreciation, why not take just a few moments in the week prior to National Medal of Honor Day to mail a "Thank You" card to one of our living Medal of Honor recipients. You can find a list of the living as well as information on writing to them among the pages of the Home of Heroes website or contact the Congressional Medal of Honor Society who will forward the letter to the Medal of Honor Recipient.
Inform your local media. Most newspapers aren't even aware that this special day exists. Why not tip your local media to the occasion. Before you do, check out the Home of Heroes database for Medal of Honor recipients from your city and state as well as any who might be buried in your city. This information can give your media a "local angle" that can increase the probability that they will consider doing a story to remind Americans of our heroes.
Consider doing something in your local schools, or even on a civic level, if there is a Medal of Honor recipient living near your location. School ideas at the Home of Heroes website.
Have a Patriotic School Assembly
If there is a Medal of Honor recipient buried in your home town, get a school class, scout troop, or other youth organization to "adopt a grave site".
Please visit the Home of Heroes website and the Educational Resources section of Medal of Honor News.
The recent Army Times article, Special Forces Soldier receives posthumous Medal of Honor, recounts the story of Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller, U.S. Army, who heroically distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous conduct in the face of the enemy of the U.S. while serving as the Weapons Sergeant, Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha 3312, Special Operations Task Force-33, Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force-Afghanistan, Forward Operating Base Naray, Kunar Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
On January 25th, 2008 Sergeant Miller found himself willingly leading a team of Afghan National Security Forces and Coalition soldiers during a combat reconnaissance patrol in Kunar Province near the Pakistan border. Insurgents hiding in a structure attacked Miller's team. A fellow teammate called for close-air support to drop ordinance on the insurgent position, disrupting their attack. When the combined patrol moved toward the structure to check for any remaining enemy threats, insurgents again fired using heavy weapons.
Miller's team captain was seriously wounded within the first minutes of the attack. While his commander was moved to safety, Miller returned fire. At great personal risk to himself, Miller remained at the front of the patrol and continued to lay down suppressive fire on multiple insurgent positions, allowing his wounded commander to be pulled out of the line of fire, ultimately saving his life. Miller's personal courage under intense enemy fire enabled the entire patrol to gain cover and return fire. Even while injured by direct enemy small-arms and machine gun fire, Miller continued to employ his M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and grenades to suppress enemy fire and protect his teammates.
Staff Sgt. Miller’s selfless acts saved the lives of his seven of his ODA members and 15 Afghan soldiers. As a result of Staff Sgt. Miller’s heroic actions, the Gowardesh Insurgency was dealt a crippling blow, decimating insurgent forces involved in the battle, and shattering their morale and confidence.
He posthumously received the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony on October 6th, 2010.
In the article, Robert’s father, Phillip Miller stated:
"All of us wonder if we can perform the same way, and keep our head and do what we have to do in an extreme situation like that, and take a calculated risk that you know you'll have to take and which may mean you won't survive," Philip Miller said. "You start to look at all the stories of what people do, including the people in this same firefight, and then you realize how remarkable it is that they're keeping their heads under incredible, intense, dangerous conditions, and doing the right thing. It's amazing to imagine anybody could behave like that.”
"Receiving the Medal of Honor on behalf of our son is obviously extremely important to us, because it represents the gratitude of the country to one of their Soldiers who performed so well and effectively in combat," Miller's father, who was also a Soldier, said. "Our son will become part of the written history of the United States."
Read the rest of the article.
Presidential remarks Official narrative Official citation
According to Dan Miller’s article, Veterans memorial in West Pennsboro Township Park to include bust of Medal of Honor winner, in The Patriot-News, Army Sergeant First Class Randall 'Randy' David Shughart, will be honored on October 1st with a bust of his likeness in West Pennsboro Township Park, PA.
The bust, 30 inches high by 20 inches wide will be placed next to a memorial being built in the park to honor all U.S. veterans.
Milller mentions:
“Shughart posthumously received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Mogadishu in October 1993.
Shughart and the other soldier, Master Sgt. Gary Gordon of Lincoln, Maine, were killed that day but saved the life of Black Hawk helicopter pilot Michael Durant.
In 1994, Shughart and Gordon were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Their heroism was brought to life for millions of Americans in the 1999 New York Times best-seller “Black Hawk Down,” a gripping blow-by-blow account of the battle of Mogadishu by Mark Bowden that inspired the movie of the same name.”
"On October 3, 2024 Shughart was Sniper Team Leader during Operation Gothic Serpent, a joint-force assault mission to apprehend key advisers to Somali warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. During the assault, Super Six One, one of the Army's Black Hawk helicopters providing insertion and air support to the assault team was shot down and had crashed in the city. A Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) team was dispatched to the first crash site to secure it. Shortly thereafter, Super Six Four was shot down as well. Ranger forces on the ground were not able to assist the downed helicopter crew of the second crash site as they were already engaged in heavy combat with Aidid's militia and making their way to the first crash site." Wikipedia
"Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Sergeant First Class Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Sergeant First Class Shughart used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers while traveling the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life." Citation
"Without a doubt, I owe my life to these two men and their bravery," said Mike Durant, whose life was saved by the actions of SFC Shughart and MSG Gary Gordon. "Those guys came in when they had to know it was a losing battle," Durant said of the two men. "There was nobody else left to back them up. If they had not come in, I wouldn't have survived."
Clip from the movie Black Hawk Down - Randy Shughart, Gary Gordon
On August 5, 2025 President Dwight Eisenhower signed legislation sent to him by Congress chartering the Congressional Medal of Honor Society... Visit Website
Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation
Perpetuating a Legacy of Courage, Sacrifice and Patriotism... Visit Website
Home of Heroes
Preserving the History of Recipients of the Medal of Honor
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U.S Army Center of Military History
Full list of Medal of Honor citations courtesy of the United States Army
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U.S. Department of Defense
A Brief History of the Medal of Honor
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The Pritzker Military Library
Medal of Honor with Ed Tracy
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Medal of Honor Movies
Medal of Honor (PBS)
The story of the Medal of Honor, the highest U.S. award for valor in combat, is told through personal accounts of bravery and daring.Read more...
The Medal
Brings to life some of the rich stories that define America’s highest honor as it seeks to answer the broader question of what the Medal of Honor says about us as a nation. Read more...
Feats of Valor
Featured the stories of three Medal of Honor recipients: Hershel “Woody” Williams (WWII); Tibor “Ted” Rubin (Korea); and Sammy Davis (Vietnam). Read more...
Beyond the Medal of Honor
Beyond the Medal of Honor profiles four of America's greatest military heroes. For their specific actions each one was awarded our nation's highest supreme honor The Congressional Medal of Honor. Read more...
Featured Video
Paul W. Bucha, Medal of Honor recipient, Vietnam 1968, keynote speaker at the dedication of the statue of World War II Medal of Honor recipient Homer L. Wise, May 26, 2013, Stamford, CT
Company L, 142d Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division
Statue erected in Veterans Park, Stamford, CT, December 18, 2024
Janice Mauro, Sculptor Photo: Hour Photo / Erik Trautman
The Homer L. Wise Memorial Committee
Podcasts
The Pritzker Military Library's Executive Producer, Ed Tracy, hosts live, monthly interviews with recipients of the Medal of Honor. Each program can be seen online at The Pritzker Military Library.
Retired Air Force Col. Leo K. Thorsness, center, Congressional Medal of Honor Society president, speaks with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, left, and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at a ceremony honoring the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes, Washington, D.C., March 25, 2011. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley
Medal of Honor recipient Richard Pittman, far left, stands at attention during the playing of the Service Medley at a ceremony honoring the 150th anniversary of the Medal of Honor at the Pentagon's Hall of Heroes in Washington, D.C., March 25, 2011. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley 
Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation
Home of Heroes
U.S Army Center of Military History
U.S. Department of Defense
The Pritzker Military Library
Brings to life some of the rich stories that define America’s highest honor as it seeks to answer the broader question of what the Medal of Honor says about us as a nation. Read more...
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