You want stories of American heroes that feel real. They run from battlefield valor to quiet public service, and the nation’s medals record both, from Washington in 1776 to teachers and volunteers.
This page is part of the site’s patriotic stories section, which gathers accounts of courage, service and civic memory in one place.
| Item | Key fact |
|---|---|
| Congressional Gold Medal first issued | 1776, to General George Washington |
| Medal of Honor first presented | 1863 |
| Medal of Honor awards (as of the 2015 count) | 3,512 awards to 3,493 recipients |
| Presidential Medal of Freedom renamed and broadened | 1963 |
| Presidential Citizens Medal created | 1969 |
| Congressional Award participant ages | 14 to 23 years |
These figures come from the Congressional Research Service guide to national awards, updated February 13, 2026, and its Medal of Honor history, whose counts date from August 2015. Figures can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
Why do national medals matter for hero stories?
A good place to begin is the Congressional Gold Medal. According to the CRS guide updated February 13, 2026, it was first issued by the Continental Congress to General George Washington in 1776.
Congress awards these medals by act of law to express public gratitude for distinguished contributions, highlight the virtues of patriotism, and perpetuate the remembrance of great events. The honor can mark a lifetime of contribution or a single achievement, and it can go to individuals or to groups.
That range is useful for anyone collecting hero stories. National honors let you follow the same idea of courage through very different lives, from generals to everyday citizens.
- Military valor: the Medal of Honor, covered below.
- Lifetime or singular achievement: the Congressional Gold Medal.
- Civilian service: the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Presidential Citizens Medal.
- Youth service: the Congressional Award.
American heroes in uniform: the Medal of Honor
Among military honors for courage, the Medal of Honor ranks first, according to a CRS history from August 18, 2015. It was first presented in 1863. As of that revision, it had been awarded 3,512 times to 3,493 recipients, and 19 people had received it twice.
The bar is deliberately high. A Senate committee print quoted by the same report says the deed must be proved by at least two eyewitnesses, must involve the risk of the person’s life, and must clearly stand apart from lesser forms of bravery.
Not every medal story comes from a battlefield. On a few rare occasions Congress has awarded special Medals of Honor for peacetime exploits, and the 2015 CRS report names Capt. Charles A. Lindbergh, honored for his nonstop flight from New York to Paris on 20-21 May 1927.
As a general rule, the medal is earned only by a member of the armed forces in actual combat with an enemy of the nation. The same report notes that the Navy version has been awarded to noncombatants on several occasions, and that Mary Edwards Walker, a civilian contract surgeon, was the only woman to receive the medal as of that 2015 report.
Heroes who waited for recognition
Some of the most moving stories are about honors that arrived late. The 2015 CRS report says Army Private Henry Johnson and Army Sergeant William Shemin, the two most recent World War I recipients at that time, were awarded Medals of Honor posthumously by President Obama on June 2, 2015.
The report explains that such late awards are the exception and not the rule. They are often based on technical errors, lost documents, eyewitness accounts or other factors that justify reconsideration.
If you tell these stories, keep that detail. It shows that national memory can be corrected, and that a hero’s recognition does not always match the date of the deed.
Where legend and the record part ways
Honest hero stories also admit mistakes. The CRS history recounts that during the Civil War, President Lincoln, in need of troops, offered the medal to members of the 27th Maine Volunteer Infantry as an inducement to stay on active duty.
Because of a clerical error, the entire unit of 864 men received the medal, even though only 309 had actually volunteered for extended duty.
In 1916 a board was created to determine eligibility and review earlier awards. It considered all 2,625 medals awarded up to that time, and nearly one-third (911) were canceled.
The same report adds that six rescinded awards have since been reinstated. For anyone who values accurate hero stories, that history is a reminder to check what the record actually says.
Everyday heroes and civilian honors
Heroism is not only military. As of the CRS guide updated February 13, 2026, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is typically described as the highest civilian award of the United States government.
President Harry S. Truman first created it to reward war-connected acts or services by civilians during World War II. President John F. Kennedy renamed and broadened it in 1963, and it may be awarded posthumously.
The Presidential Citizens Medal was created in 1969 by President Richard M. Nixon to recognize citizens who performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or fellow citizens. The same guide describes it as generally the second-highest civilian award, and says recent recipients have included:
- activists and athletes
- disaster responders and election workers
- public officials and leaders of cultural institutions
- police officers, teachers and volunteers
Young people have a place too. Congress established the Congressional Award in 1979, and participants aged 14 to 23 complete a self-designed program in four areas: voluntary public service, personal development, physical fitness, and expedition or exploration.
How to carry these stories forward
Reading about heroes is a start, and a few habits make the stories last. Try this simple approach:
- Start with the official wording of an honor or citation, so the facts come before the legend.
- Note the date of every source, because counts and descriptions of awards change over time.
- Look for the local and ordinary heroes near you, such as teachers, responders and volunteers.
- Share the story with someone younger, including what is uncertain as well as what is inspiring.
National memory is also kept through song and ceremony. The guide to famous patriotic songs covers one way that memory is passed on.
If you are curious about a ritual that many students know, you can read the history of the pledge of allegiance for how that tradition developed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest award for American heroism?
Show answer
The Medal of Honor is the nation’s highest military award for bravery, according to the CRS history revised August 18, 2015. For civilians, the Presidential Medal of Freedom is typically described as the highest award, as of the CRS guide updated February 13, 2026.
Can a hero receive an honor after death?
Show answer
Yes. The CRS guide updated February 13, 2026 says the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Presidential Citizens Medal can both be awarded posthumously. The Medal of Honor for Henry Johnson and William Shemin, awarded on June 2, 2015, is another example.
Can civilians receive the Medal of Honor?
Show answer
Generally it is earned only while serving in the armed forces in actual combat. The 2015 CRS report notes the Navy version has been awarded to noncombatants on several occasions.
Can the public recommend someone for a presidential honor?
Show answer
For the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the CRS guide updated February 13, 2026 says there is no formal nomination procedure, but letters making recommendations may be sent to the President. It says the same is true of recommendations for the Presidential Citizens Medal.
