By an act of Congress, March 25 has been designated as Medal of Honor Day.
The Medal of Honor award was started during the Civil War when, in 1861, President Abraham Lincoln signed into law the awarding of the Medal of Honor to “such non-commissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier like qualities.” In 1863, the medal would become a permanent military decoration for all members of the military.
Medal of Honor Day was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, as it was passed by the 101st United States Congress in November 1990. Medal of Honor day is a United States federal observance that is celebrated every year on March 25. It was created to honor the “heroism and sacrifice of Medal of Honor recipients for the United States. The holiday has been celebrated since 1991.
It reads “Whereas the Medal of Honor is the highest distinction that can be awarded by the president, in the name of the congress, to members of the armed forces who have distinguished themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their lives above and beyond the call of duty ... Whereas public awareness of the importance of the Medal of Honor has declined in recent years; and Whereas the designation of National Medal of Honor Day will focus the efforts of national, State, and local organizations striving to foster public appreciation and recognition of Medal of Honor recipients.”
You are invited to visit the Texas Panhandle War Memorial Center to see the display of Medal of Honor recipients from the Texas Panhandle to include the following:
William “Billy” Dixon, plus 5 others from the Battle of Buffalo Wallow, Hemphill County in the Texas Panhandle; Charles H. Roan, WWII from Claude, Texas and name sake of the Ussery Roan Texas State Veterans Home in Amarillo; John C. “Red” Morgan, WWII, attended Amarillo College and West Texas State College, the movie ’12 O’clock High’ was made from his story; and Thomas E. Creek, Vietnam, name sake of the Thomas E. Creek VA Medical Center in Amarillo.
