If you are a football fan like I am, you know that former Saints player Steve Gleason became the first NFL player to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, prompting my mom to ask me how it differs from the Congressional Medal of Honor. While the level of prestige is similar, both medals have a slightly different focus.
What's the Diference Between the Gold Medal and the Medal of Honor?
Like the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is personally awarded by the President of the United States, the Congressional Gold Medal is awarded by an act of Congress. Both are considered the highest civilian award in the United States and are awarded to individuals who have performed an outstanding deed of service to the national interest, prosperity, or security of the United States.
American citizenship is not a requirement to receive the award.
By contrast, the Medal of Honor is a military award given for extreme bravery in action. It is specifically for a member of the U.S. Armed Force, and each service branch has a uniquely designed medal with the exception of the Coast Guard and the Marine Corps which both use the Navy’s medal. The Medal of Honor is presented personally to the recipient to the next of kin in the case of a posthumous award.
In order to receive the Medal of Honor, the chain of command can nominate a service member, followed by approval at each level of the command. This is the more common protocol. However, the other method is nomination by a member of Congress followed by approval by a special act of Congress. In either case, the President of the United States presents the Medal of Honor on behalf of Congress.
Although it is awarded by the Department of Defense “in the name of Congress,” it is not called the Congressional Medal of Honor even though many incorrectly do. It is simply the Medal of Honor. First issued during the American Civil War, it became the supreme honor by the time of the Spanish American War and has special protection under U.S. law due to its high status.
Guest Contributor: Rachel Basinger is a former history teacher turned freelance writer and editor. She loves studying military history, especially the World Wars, and of course military medals. She has authored three history books for young adults and transcribed interviews of World War II veterans. In her free time, Rachel is a voracious reader and is a runner who completed her first half marathon in May 2019.
