123STA T . 2 980PUBLIC LA W 111 – 91 —NOV . 6, 2009 PublicLaw1 11 –9 1 111 thCongres s A n Act Torequi re th e S e c ret a r y o f the Trea s ury to m i n t coins in reco g nition an d ce l e b ration of the establishment of the M edal of H onor in 186 1 ,A merica ’ s highest a w ard for v alor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed u p on an individual serving in the Armed Services of the U nited States, to honor the American military men and women who have been recipients of the Medal of Honor, and to promote awareness of what the Medal of Honor represents and how ordinary Americans, through courage, sacrifice, selfless service and patriotism, can challenge fate and change the course of history .Beit e nac te dby t h e S enate and Hous eo fR e pr esentati v es of the U nited States of Am erica in C on g ress assemb l ed ,SECTION1. S H O R T TIT L E. ThisActmaybe cite d as the ‘ ‘ M eda lofH o n o rC ommemorati v e Coin Act of 20 0 9’ ’ . SEC. 2 . F IN D IN G S. The Con g ress finds as follo w s
- (1)
The Medal of Honor , first a u thori z ed by the Congress in1 86 1asthe U nited S tates N avy’s highest p ersonal decora - tion, the Army Medal of Honor was authorized by the Congress in 1862, and the Air F orce Medal of Honor was authorized by Congress in 19 5 6. (2) The Medal of Honor is presented by the P resident of the United States in the name of the Congress, to a person who, while a member of the United States Armed Forces, distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the ris k of his or her life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of the United States
while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force; or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. ( 3 ) The deed performed must have been one of personal bravery or self-sacrifice so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the individual above his or her comrades and must have involved risk of life. ( 4 ) I ncontestable proof of the performance of the service will be e x acted and each recommendation for the award of this decoration will be considered on the standard of extraor- dinary merit. (5) Fewer than 3,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces. (6) The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is a not- for-profit organization chartered by the 85th Congress under MedalofH o n o rC o m memora tiv e Coin Ac tof 20 0 9.31US C 5 112 note. N ov. 6, 2009 [ H. R . 1209 ]
