'This is a fraternity that isn’t looking for new members ... because that means America is not embroiled in combat'25 March 2014 - Each year, the U.S. federal government and military recognizes the most outstanding veterans on National Medal of Honor Day. But the 75 living recipients of the medal decided to do something different in recent years, handing out the award to three civilians who dedicated their lives to public service.
“Members decided that our legacy would be that you not need be in uniform. You can be a hero equal to us,” former Congressional Medal of Honor Society CEO Gen. Tom Wilkerson told Yahoo News about this year's Citizens Honors Ceremony. “It’s a good thing for them to recognize hometown heroes. Those who have given to their own communities in which they didn’t expect any recognition.”
For example, in 2013 the society honored Sandy Hook Elementary teacher Victoria Soto, who died trying to protect her students.
National Medal of Honor Day was established by Congress in 1990 and falls on March 25 each year. In 1863, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton made the first Medal of Honor presentation. Since then, about 3,400 have received the medal, with some 60 percent awarded posthumously. read more>>>
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