- The first medal or award honoring courageous acts by U.S. service members can be traced back to George Washington's creation of the "Badge of Military Merit", which fell into disuse after the Revolutionary War and was then reinstated as the "Purple Heart" in the 1930s.
- The act providing for a "Medal of Honor" was signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in December of 1862, stating that it should be awarded "to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities, during the present insurrection."
- To date, more than 7,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded to U.S. service members.
"A Brief History: The Medal of Honor." United States Department of Defense. http://www.defense.gov/faq/pis/med_of_honor.aspx (Accessed August 2012).
"Medal of Honor Statistics." Center of Military History: United States Army. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/mohstats.html (Accessed August 2012).
"Medal of Honor Statistics." Center of Military History: United States Army. http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/mohstats.html (Accessed August 2012).
