Hello and welcome to the Medal of Honor Series, presented by Pro Armory! Before we get started talking about the select few honored heroes in American history that have been awarded this greatest honor, please allow me to explain why it is that we should never forget them, and why this honor is such a big deal. Briefly put, the Congressional Medal of Honor is bestowed for demonstrations of valor in action. This simple definition of mere words that action films and drama series attempt to portray, oftentimes does not do the Recipients justice at all. In fact, the media producers often downplay the heroics of these great individuals as a means to make their story more believable to the average viewer. As a result, in this series, we intend to do a deeper dive into the individuals themselves! We will look beyond the heroic citations written for these courageous people, and lay bare the resolute courage that defined them throughout the entirety of their lives. Diving into how someone of any background can change and inspire the world through genuine selflessness and bravery for a cause greater than one's own life.

“…We have every right to dream heroic dreams. Those who say that we're in a time when there are not heroes, they just don't know where to look. You can see heroes every day going in and out of factory gates. Others, a handful in number, produce enough food to feed all of us and then the world beyond. You meet heroes across a counter, and they're on both sides of that counter. There are entrepreneurs with faith in themselves and faith in an idea who create new jobs, new wealth and opportunity. They're individuals and families whose taxes support the government and whose voluntary gifts support church, charity, culture, art, and education. Their patriotism is quiet, but deep. Their values sustain our national life….”

- President Ronald Reagan’s Inaugural Address, 1981

The Congressional Medal of Honor is the United States' highest award for military valor in action with only 3534 Medals being awarded since its inception about 160 years ago. The Medal did not start out with the level of distinction it has today, but instead it actually started out as a simple idea brought before congress in a Bill from Senator James W. Grimes of Iowa. This Bill sought to authorize the production and distribution of “medals of honor” to be presented to enlisted seamen and marines who distinguish themselves in gallantry in action, during the American Civil War. Over time though, the Medal has undergone several legislative and cosmetic changes that further garnered the award in absolute distinction as the highest award for military valor in the United States.

As we travel through our Nation’s history, outlining these gallant heroes who have been awarded this Country’s greatest honor, we encourage you to pay attention to their character and the words used to describe them. Words such as gallantry, intrepidity, above and beyond the call of duty, risk of life, selflessness, exemplary action, unwavering devotion, conspicuous gallantry, and extraordinary heroism, that litter the Recipients’ Medal of Honor citations. These descriptive words, enshrining the Recipients’ stories capture the best of what it means to be human. Therefore, as you read their stories, ask yourself if you believe that without such individuals, would we be where we are today? Standing as a shining glimmer of hope for those oppressed in States abroad, that freedom is possible if you can inspire others to act as these Heroes have.

We must never forget the shoulders this Nation stands on. As a Country, we will never be perfect, but we can certainly try to be, and we need not look far for inspiration. These 3,534 individuals stand as a testament to the possible future we can build for ourselves. Thus, by serving, remembering, supporting, and honoring the sacrifice of the Recipients, by sharing the stories and values inherent in them, we can better understand the responsibility and potential within each one of ourselves to inspire the world. May we always remember these individuals who have answered our Nation’s call and inspire to better ourselves in the light of the virtues demonstrated through their acts of selfless heroism.

“Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again.”

- President Ronald Reagan