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National Medal of Honor Day falls on Thursday, March 25, 2027. That is 149 days away.

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration the United States awards for valor in combat. It recognizes service members who acted with conspicuous gallantry and risked their lives above and beyond the call of duty. This day honors the people who have received it.

Many recipients did not survive the actions that earned the medal, and their awards were presented to their families. Others returned home and carried the honor quietly for the rest of their lives. Recipients often describe the medal as belonging to the people they served with, not to themselves.

The medal is presented by the President on behalf of Congress, which is why it is sometimes called the Congressional Medal of Honor. There are distinct designs for the Army, for the Navy (also used by the Marine Corps and Coast Guard), and for the Air Force and Space Force. Each hangs from a light blue ribbon worn around the neck.

The day is usually marked in plain ways. Communities hold small ceremonies, veterans groups read citations aloud, and schools and libraries share the stories of local recipients. The written citations are a good place to start. Each one describes, in a few careful paragraphs, what a person did on a particular day, often in the space of minutes.

Many towns have a street, school, or memorial named for a recipient, and the name on the sign is often the first place a person encounters one of these stories.

Ways to honor this day

• Read the Medal of Honor citation of a recipient from your state.
• Display an American flag at your home.
• Attend a local ceremony or memorial event if one is held nearby.
• Visit a memorial or site named for a Medal of Honor recipient.
• Write a note of thanks to a local veterans organization.

Dates

All national days on March 25

Categories: Commemorative days