03/25/2026
Today is National Medal of Honor Day.
Most people know the Medal of Honor is the highest military award for valor, but I think a lot of people do not realize just how much respect surrounds it, even long after the battlefield.
One of the most powerful traditions is this: Medal of Honor recipients are saluted regardless of rank. That means even the highest-ranking officers render the salute first. That says a lot. It is one of the clearest ways our military shows that extraordinary courage and sacrifice stand above normal status, position, or title.
Something a lot of people don’t realize is just how much weight that medal carries, even beyond the battlefield. There isn’t just one Medal of Honor, there are actually three versions, one for the Army, one for the Navy and Marine Corps, and one for the Air Force. Different designs, same meaning, same level of respect.
And despite the name people often use, it’s not something casually given. Every single Medal of Honor is approved by Congress and presented by the President of the United States. That alone tells you the level of scrutiny and significance behind it.
Another powerful part of it is what it means for a recipient’s family. Their children are eligible to attend U.S. service academies without needing a congressional nomination, something that is normally extremely competitive and hard to get. That kind of recognition extends beyond the individual and honors the entire family.
Because that medal doesn’t just recognize a moment… it represents a legacy.
National Medal of Honor Day itself is observed on March 25 because that is the date tied to the first Medals of Honor awarded during the Civil War. It is not just a day about military history. It is a day to stop and reflect on what real courage looks like.
What has always stood out to me is that these men did not act for recognition. They acted in chaos, under fire, when other people’s lives mattered more to them than their own safety. That is what makes the Medal of Honor so sacred. It is not about glory. It is about selflessness at the highest level imaginable.
As an Iraq veteran, I take days like this personally. I think about the men who came before me, the ones who set the standard. I think about those who served beside my generation, and those who came after us. The uniform connects all of us, but the Medal of Honor reminds us of the absolute highest example of duty, bravery, and sacrifice. That kind of example should never be forgotten.
Today, I just want to say this: to every Medal of Honor recipient, and to the families who carried the weight alongside them, thank you. Your courage is part of the foundation this country stands on.
May we never lose respect for what that medal represents.
May we never treat that sacrifice casually.
And may we always remember that the greatest heroes are often the ones who never called themselves heroes at all.
