March 25 is designated Minnesota Medal of Honor Day in honor of the individuals from Minnesota who have served in the military or naval forces of the United States and have received the Medal of Honor, which was first presented on March 25, 1863. Each year, the governor shall issue a proclamation honoring this observance. It is also National Medal of Honor Day.

On March 25, 1863, the first Medals of Honor were presented. Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton presented Medals of Honor (Army) to six members of “Andrews Raiders” for their volunteering and participation during an American Civil War raid in April of 1862.

The medal was created in 1861 and is the United States of America’s highest military honor. It is awarded only to US military personnel, by the President of the United States in the name of Congress, for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty.

In 1990, the United States Congress designated March 25th of each year as National Medal of Honor Day (Public Law 101-564). In in 2009, the Minnesota Legislature passed SF 236 which enacted Minnesota Medal of Honor Day. The bill passed the House and Senate unanimously.

The Proclamation from Governor Dayton reads as follows:

WHEREAS: The United States Congress has designated March 25th each year as National Medal of Honor Day, the day the first Medal of Honor was presented in 1862; and

WHEREAS: Since the Civil War, brave men and women from the State of Minnesota have answered the call to defend and protect the freedoms we hold dear, and several have gone beyond this call to duty, risking injury and loss of life to distinguish themselves as heroes; and

WHEREAS: The Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest military award for valor in action against an enemy force, has been awarded to more than 3,400 service members, and 72 of these heroes are associated with the State of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS: This distinguished group includes Capt. Charles Lindbergh for display of courage during his 1927 nonstop flight from New York to Paris in the Spirit of St. Louis, Capt. Richard Fleming for extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Midway in 194 2, Michael Colalillo for bravery during World War II, and Leo Thorsness for heroism and self-sacrifice during the Vietnam War; and

WHEREAS: The people of the State of Minnesota are forever grateful for the brave service members who have received this prestigious honor and to all service members who have served and continue to serve.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MARK DAYTON, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby proclaim Sunday, March 25, 2018, as: MINNESOTA MEDAL OF HONOR DAY in the state of Minnesota.

2018 Proclamation – 2018_03_25_Medal_of_Honor_Day