Chambana Sun

In a March 25 Facebook post, Rep. Chris Miller (R-Charleston) shared his thoughts on National Medal of Honor Day.

“The Medal of Honor is the highest recognition that Congress can bestow on a member of the U.S. military,” he wrote. "Today we recognize the dedication and courage of our Medal of Honor recipients and honor them for their sacrifice."

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society says of Medal of Honor Day: "March 25 was established by Congress as National Medal of Honor Day to 'foster public appreciation and recognition of Medal of Honor recipients.'"

According to the Home of Heroes website, Congress chose March 25 to be National Medal of Honor Day because the first Medals of Honor were presented to six members of Andrews' Raiders on March 25, 1863, for their bravery in the Civil War.

According to Veteran.com, historically, there have been several medals awarded to military personnel.

"These included the Fidelity Medallion awarded in the late 1700s to only three persons associated with the capture of a spy associated with Benedict Arnold; another precursor to the MoH was George Washington’s Badge of Military Merit. The last 'proto-MoH' was the Medal of Valor, approved by President Abraham Lincoln in 1861. In 1862, the Army Medal of Honor was created thanks to a resolution introduced by the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, Senator Henry Wilson. In 1915, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard members were authorized to receive the Medal of Honor, and by the mid-1960s the United States Air Force also had its own version of the MoH."

Being recognized with the Medal of Honor is not an easy feat.

The Medal of Honor Museum notes that " Of the 40 million Americans who have served in the Armed Forces since the Civil War, only 3,515 have earned the Medal of Honor."

Miller was first elected to the Illinois House in 2018 and has served on the International Trade & Commerce Committee.