Is The National Defense Service Medal A Protected Veteran

On March 25 we gloat National Medal of Honor Solar day — a twenty-four hours when nosotros honor and remember our nation's greatest heroes.

Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe, who died Nov. 8, 2005, was honored posthumously with the Medal of Honor in December 2021. — Sgt. 1st Form Alwyn Cashe, who died Nov. 8, 2005, was honored posthumously with the Medal of Award in Dec 2021.

The medal, created in 1861 by President Abraham Lincoln, is our nation's highest and rarest military decoration. Information technology is bestowed by the president of the United States, in the proper noun of Congress, upon members of the Us war machine who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives to a higher place and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States." Since its inception, just over 3,500 individuals have been awarded the medal.

Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Celiz, seen here with daughter Shannon Celiz, posthumously received the Medal of Honor in December 2021 for his actions in Afghanistan on July 12, 2018. — Sgt. 1st Course Christopher Celiz, seen here with daughter Shannon Celiz, posthumously received the Medal of Honor in December 2021 for his actions in Afghanistan on July 12, 2018.

In December 2021, President Joe Biden presented the Medal of Honour to 3 soldiers for their heroic deportment during the War on Terror. Sgt. 1st Class Alwyn Cashe and Sgt. 1st Course Christopher Celiz were honored posthumously with the medal. Their families were presented the medal on their behalf. Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee was presented the medal in person.

President Joe Biden awards the Medal of Honor to Army Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee in the East Room of the White House Dec. 16, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Plumlee, an Army Green Beret, is receiving the medal for his efforts to repel a suicide attack by Taliban fighters at Forward Operating Base Ghazni in Afghanistan in August 2013. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) — President Joe Biden awards the Medal of Laurels to Army Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee in the East Room of the White House Dec. 16, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Plumlee, an Army Green Beret, is receiving the medal for his efforts to repel a suicide set on by Taliban fighters at Forrard Operating Base Ghazni in Transitional islamic state of afghanistan in August 2013. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The Medal of Honor is more than our nation's highest military honour; it is also a symbol of courage, integrity, cede, commitment, citizenship and patriotism — the ideals that make our country groovy. A Medal of Award recipient once told me that the Medal of Honor is really very simple — it recognizes extraordinary circumstances that motivate ordinary people to do something extraordinary.

Those who habiliment the Medal of Honor are not "winners" of the medal; they are "recipients" of the medal. They receive the medal for extraordinary heroic deportment on the battleground, not for winning a contest or a game. Introducing one of them as a winner will invite a certain, and swift, rebuke.

I have had the laurels of meeting well-nigh of the living Medal of Accolade recipients. One thing I have learned is that being a recipient of the Medal of Honor is a lifelong accolade, a lifelong commitment and a lifelong burden — all at the same time. The medal itself weighs only a few ounces, but when you watch a recipient put it around his neck, information technology is equally if it weighs a g pounds. The recipients habiliment the Medal of Honor not for themselves, but for those men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice and never returned home.

There are currently only 66 living recipients, the lowest level since the Ceremonious War. In September, Knoxville will host the 2022 Medal of Laurels Convention. The Convention brings together the living recipients of the Medal of Honour for a serial of events to celebrate our nation'south greatest heroes. I hope yous volition bring together me in welcoming them to the Knoxville area.

President Lincoln once said, "A state that does not honor its heroes will not long endure." Protecting, preserving and perpetuating the legacy of the Medal of Honor and its recipients is a national imperative.

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Please take a moment today to reflect upon the sacrifices these individuals have made and laurels them past finding a way to serve our country. Y'all do not have to wear the Medal of Honor to exist of groovy service to our country. Those who do wear the Medal of Award are deserving of our thanks and praise today and every mean solar day.

Joe Thompson is the chairman of the 2022 Medal of Honor Celebration and manager at Raymond James. He may be reached at Joe.Thompson@raymondjames.com.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentry: National Medal of Honour Day fourth dimension to reverberate on sacrifices, how to be of service to nation