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150th Projects
Our mission is to promote the ideals exemplified
by the Medal of Honor, including integrity, selflessness, courage,
resolve, leadership and patriotism. The 150th Anniversary
Foundation strives to inspire citizens and to foster respect for
the United States and its values through exhibitions, education and
national programs that uphold the dignity and honor of the Medal
and its recipients.
In the early phase of the Civil War, the United States Congress
sought to bestow recognition on members of the military who fought
gallantly. Therefore, in December 1861, it passed legislation
creating the Medal of Honor.
As we approach the 150th anniversary of the Medal of
Honor, few could have imagined that an obscure Congressional action
would ultimately attain such revered prominence, rivaling among the
most elite of our nation's symbols.
Today, respect for the Medal of Honor is so solemn that each
recipient receives a salute from the President of the United States
in addition to the members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Medal
of Honor, awarded by Congress and usually presented by the
President, epitomizes the best of America and is emblematic of our
ideals of courage, sacrifice, and patriotism. It has no equal in
prestige and reverence.
These very special Americans who have earned it truly represent
the heart and soul of our country. They come from all walks of life
and nearly every state in our great nation. These honorees reflect
the ethnic, educational and economic diversity of all Americans,
but possess a rare common bond: They are recipients of the Medal of
Honor for bravery and valor in combat. Although fewer than 3,500
have ever been awarded (nearly half posthumously), fewer than 100
recipients are alive today. Sadly, considering today's mortality
rates, many of the living recipients will pass away within the next
decade.
Therefore, with this stark awareness and the opportunity to
celebrate 150 years of valor and honor, the Medal of Honor 150th
Anniversary Foundation, also named the "150 Project," was formed
with a focused and determined objective: perpetuate the Medal of
Honor, its cherished ideals and the principles upon which our
nation is founded, as well as foster patriotism and inspire
America's youth to become worthy citizens of this country.
The 150 Project will accomplish this through a wide-array of
public outreach and educational programs, in each instance
consistent with the foundation's mission and the respect due to the
Medal of Honor and its recipients. With the assistance of
generous donors, the 150 Project will include:
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