Honor the sacrifice. Inspire the future. Those six words reflect the enduring mission of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to preserve the legacy of the Medal and ensure the values it represents continue to shape our nation for generations to come.
Through their continued service – whether in classrooms, communities, or quiet moments of mentorship – Recipients ensure that the legacy of the Medal is not confined to history, but remains a living example for all Americans.
The Medal of Honor was chartered by Congress in 1958 and signifies our nation’s highest military award for valor. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s membership exclusively includes those who wear the Medal of Honor.
Since the Civil War, over 40,000,000 have served, yet fewer than 4,000 have received this rare distinguishment. Each Recipient’s story is unique, but together they represent a standard of courage, sacrifice, and selfless service that defines the very best of America. The Society exists to ensure those stories are preserved, honored, and shared with the American people.
Living Out the Values
Medal of Honor Recipients have gone above and beyond the call of duty and it’s important to share their stories and live out the values that the Medal represents.
The nonprofit Congressional Medal of Honor Society is dedicated to preserving Recipient stories as well as the meaning behind the Medal through outreach, education, and its Medal of Honor Museum. It is important to the Society that the values are not only remembered – but lived.
“The Medal of Honor represents the very best of who we are as a nation,” said Britt K. Slabinski, Medal of Honor Recipient and President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. “The individuals who have received the Medal are ordinary Americans who found themselves in extraordinary circumstances and chose to act with profound courage. Our responsibility is to preserve those stories and ensure future generations understand the values the Medal represents and are inspired to carry them forward.”
Inspiring Through Outreach and Education
A central part of the Society’s mission is connecting Americans directly with the living legacy of the Medal. Through community outreach, public engagements, and national events, Medal of Honor Recipients share their stories in their own words, offering a powerful and personal connection to the values they represent. These moments of connection challenge individuals to reflect on their own lives and consider how they, too, can embody the values of the Medal in service to others.
To support this work, the Society provides coordination, resources, and care that enable Recipients to continue their service beyond the battlefield, ensuring their time and efforts are focused on what matters most – inspiring others.
Education also is a key part of the mission. The Medal of Honor Character Development Program provides a no-cost, ready-to-use curriculum for educators across the country, equipping students with lessons grounded in the values of the Medal. By bringing Recipient stories into schools nationwide, the program helps shape the next generation to understand – and live – the values that define the Medal.
Sharing in the Mission
TriWest is steadfast on its mission to honor those who have served and currently serve with bravery, courage, sacrifice, and integrity. TriWest became connected with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society decades ago. On a national level, there was an incident at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport over 24 years ago that highlighted the need for nationwide education about what the Medal of Honor is and why it is important to remember those who earned it. During that incident, Joe Foss, World War II Marine Corps fighter ace, Medal of Honor recipient, and former governor of South Dakota was traveling for a speaking engagement. At the airport, he was delayed by airport security because of the very medal that symbolized the nation’s highest recognition of valor.
TriWest is an elite mission partner of the Medal of Honor Society and Foundation. The Foundation was formed in 1999 to advance the mission of the Society and provide an avenue to garner financial support. TriWest President and CEO Dave McIntyre has served on the Foundation Board of Directors throughout the past two decades and is currently its chairman of the board.
“At TriWest, we teach our employees the values of the Medal of Honor to instill in them a unique passion for the work we do for those we are privileged to serve,” said McIntyre. “By doing even just our small part to live out the values represented in the Medal of Honor, we can hope to give back to those who’ve sacrificed for us in a way they deserve.”
TriWest is a sponsor for the Society’s annual convention and supports other key events, including Medal of Honor Day ceremonies and related Medal of Honor Citizen Honors Awards dinners.
Ordinary People Who Did Extraordinary Things
Today, there are only 64 living Medal of Honor Recipients. Each one carries not only the recognition of their actions, but the lifelong responsibility to represent the Medal and the values it stands for.
One of those 64 is Leroy Petry, who serves as a Military Advisor at TriWest. Employees recently had the honor of listening to Leroy speak at a special event at TriWest headquarters in Phoenix. Watch the video below as Leroy shares about the day his heroic actions saved the lives of fellow soldiers in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
Through their continued service – whether in classrooms, communities, or quiet moments of mentorship – Recipients ensure that the legacy of the Medal is not confined to history, but remains a living example for all Americans.
Their stories remind us that courage is not reserved for a select few. It is a choice, one that built our nation and one that each of us is called to make in our own lives.