47th Edition
Do you remember the first trophy you ever won? I do. It was in a swimming race when I was seven years old. There were two of us in the race and we had to swim the width of the pool. About twenty-five feet. The other kid couldn’t make it and had to be rescued by the lifeguard. I made it to the other side of the pool and took home my first trophy.
My wife and I recently watched the series Pacific, which chronicled the U.S. involvement in WWII through the eyes of two notable participants and subsequent authors, E.B. Sledge and Robert Leckie. It also told the heartfelt and inspirational story of John Basilone, who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on Peleliu. After receiving the Medal of Honor, Sergeant Basilone was sent home to help the war effort by giving speeches and making public appearances. Instead of basking in glory, and enjoying the life of a national celebrity, Basilone decided to return to the battle and his fellow Marines. Sadly, he was killed on Iwo Jima. What makes a person make such a selfless decision? That question has been on my mind lately.
While people make selfless decisions every day, to be considered for the Medal of Honor takes self-sacrifice to a whole other level. The Medal of Honor Nomination and Process includes these three guidelines:
1. By law, only U.S. service members who distinguish themselves “through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty” can receive the medal.
2. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is not involved in nominating, selecting, or awarding the Medal of Honor.
3. The Medal of Honor is bestowed upon the Armed Forces Recipient by the President of the United States in Congress’ name.
For civilians, there are two prestigious awards – (from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society)
The Congressional Gold Medal
The Congressional Gold Medal is an award bestowed by the United States Congress. It is Congress’s highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions by individuals, institutions, or groups. It can be awarded to anyone Congress deems worthy. Individual recipients include George Washington and Nathaniel Greene, and in more recent years, Ronald Reagan and Jack Nicklaus.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom (from the Obama White House Archives)
Since 1963, the Presidential Medal of Freedom has been an award bestowed by the president of the United States to recognize people who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.” Recipients include Babe Ruth and John Wayne, and more recently, Tom Hanks and Michael Jordan.
We are a country of extraordinary people, and it is a good thing to celebrate their achievements and contributions. By doing so, we lift up heroes and role models for others to follow, and we set standards and expectations for the next generation.
Still, there are even more people who go through life relatively unknown who are never officially acknowledged for their important contributions. The local businessman who treats his customers fairly and his employees generously, the greeters at church every Sunday whose smile welcomes all who enter in search of fellowship and God’s grace, and the neighbor who drops off freshly baked cookies for no special reason other than to remind you that they value your friendship. These acts flow from strength of character and while each action may seem insignificant on its own, collectively they form the fabric of civil society at every level.
At our very best we are a country of thoughtful, considerate people who will never receive a prestigious award, but to whom we should be forever grateful. Being thankful changes the narrative and smooths the edges between people with opposing viewpoints. Too often, in recent times, we seem to fall short of being thankful for all that we have, all that others have sacrificed for us, and above all, for God’s dominion over us.
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Michael Kayes
*These views are my personal opinions and are not the viewpoints of any company or organization.