3 Medal Of Honor Recipients:

You can meet and get an autograph from 3 of these recipients. It's an opportunity of a lifetime. Read below for information on the award itself.

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 Armed Services of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress, it is often called the Congressional Medal of Honor.

The President, in the name of Congress, has awarded more than 3,400 Medals of Honor to our nation's bravest Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen since the decoration's creation in 1861.

There are three different types of Medals of Honor today.  The original simple star shape established in 1861 which the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard have retained; a wreath version designed in 1904 for the Army; and an altered wreath version for the Air Force, designed in 1963 and adopted in 1965.

On July 25,1963 Congress established a set of guidelines under which the Medal of Honor could be awarded.  They are as follows:  while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States; while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or, while serving with friendly forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.

The Medal of Honor originated on December 9, 1861.  Iowa Senator James W. Grimes introduced S. No. 82 in the United States Senate, a bill designed to "promote the efficiency of the Navy" by authorizing the production and distribution of "medals of honor".  On December 21st the bill was passed, authorizing 200 such medals be produced "which shall be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen and marines as shall distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the present war (Civil War)."   President Lincoln signed the bill and the (Navy) Medal of Honor was born.  Two months later on February 17, 1862 Massachusetts Senator Henry Wilson introduced a similar bill, this one to authorize "the President to distribute medals to privates in the Army of the United States who shall distinguish themselves in battle."  Over the following months wording changed slightly as the bill made its way through Congress.  When President Abraham Lincoln signed S.J.R. No. 82 on July 12, 1862, the Army Medal of Honor was born.

The first award of the Medal of Honor was made March 25, 1863, to Private Jacob Parrott, and five others.  Since then there have been: 3,466 Medals of Honor Awarded for 3,461 separate acts of heroism performed by 3,447 individuals (including 9 “Unknowns”).  Today, there are 105 living Recipients of the Medal of Honor. 42% of the living Recipients earned their Medals more than 50 years ago while serving in WWII (30) or Korea (14).  There are 61 living recipients who performed actions in Vietnam.  The youngest Recipient is Gordon R. Roberts, age 57. He was born June 14th, 1950 and the only female to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor was Mary Walker at Bull Run on July 21,1861.

On August 5, 1958 President Dwight Eisenhower signed legislation sent to him by Congress  chartering the CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR SOCIETY.   The Congressional Medal Of Honor Society of the United States of America is perhaps the "most exclusive organization" in our country...it is certainly one of the most unique.  Its small membership includes men of all races, social classes and economic levels.  They range in stature from 5'2" to 6'5",   in age from 53 to 94, and they live in all areas of our Country.  Among them are scholars and ordinary men, successful entrepreneurs and struggling laborers, ministers and misfits, very rich to very poor.  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.  Beyond this attitude towards recruitment, about all they have in common is a passionate love for the United States of America and the distinct honor of wearing our Nation's highest award for military valor, The Medal of Honor.