Existing comment:
Medal of Honor Recipients at Arlington National Cemetery
The Medal of Honor is the highest award issued by the United States. Originally adopted during the American Civil War, the award criteria was not standardized among the military services and initially included honorable service as well as life-saving. In 1963, a new, more rigorous criteria was established. It required that a recipient had "distinguished himself conspicuously in gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." Also included in the criteria are the following stipulations:
* While engaged in an action against an enemy of the United States.
* While engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force.
* While serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.
These are the same three criteria used for the awarding of the Purple Heart Medal.
There are three distinct types of Medals of Honor: one for the Army, the Navy (also issued to the Marine Corps), and the Air Force. Over four hundred Medal of Honor recipients lay at rest at Arlington National Cemetery. |