WASHINGTON (March 25, 2015) - - Medal of Honor Day is celebrated each year on March 25th, and this year three Medal of Honor recipients recognized the day by laying a wreath in front of the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.
The Medal of Honor recipients were escorted during the Army Full Honor Wreath Ceremony Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commanding general, U.S. Army Military District of Washington.
In 1990, Congress designated March 25th of each year as National Medal of Honor Day, recognizing the service to the nation of Medal of Honor recipients. March 25th was chosen to highlight the date in 1863 when the first Medals of Honor were presented to individuals during the Civil War.
Immediately following the wreath-laying, another ceremony in support of National Medal of Honor Day took place inside the Women in Military Service for America Memorial, also at Arlington National Cemetery. Members of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation presented awards to the three 2015 'Citizens Service Before Self Honors Program' honorees: Mr. Alton Brieske, Mr. Jon Meis and Mr. Michael Reagan.
The Citizen Honors program was started by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, whose membership consists exclusively of the living recipients of the Medal of Honor. Its purpose is to recognize that the character traits identified with the Medal - courage, sacrifice, selflessness and patriotism - could be found in all Americans.
According to Ronald T. Rand, the president of the foundation and keynote speaker at the awards ceremony, 28 of the 79 living recipients of the Medal of Honor were present during the awards presentation.
Related Links:
Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation
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