If you were to attend an official gathering where military, fire fighters, or police are present, they will be in their dress blues, the dress uniform of their service. Collar brass and insignias on the upper arm or coat sleeve will indicate their rank. Above the breast pockets will be a colorful array of commendation or citation bars. These indicate skills and certifications that have been achieved and honors that have been awarded. It’s also possible to see medals and these tend to have an even greater significance for some heroic action.
On this day in 1862, the Army Medal of Honor was created and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln. Nearly a year after the Civil War had begun, the military wanted to recognize those who had gone “above and beyond the call of duty.” The previous December, the Navy, with Lincoln’s approval, created the Medal of Valor, the equivalent to the Army’s newly created Medal of Honor. Congress recorded that the Medal of Honor should be awarded “to such noncommissioned officers and privates as shall most distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action, and other soldier-like qualities during the present insurrection.
“In 1863, the Medal of Honor was made a permanent military decoration available to all members, including commissioned officers, of the U.S. military. It is conferred upon those who have distinguished themselves in actual combat at risk of life beyond the call of duty.”1
The first award was given to those involved in The Great Locomotive Chase (also known as Andrews’ Raid or the Mitchel Raid). This “was a military raid that occurred April 12, 1862, in northern Georgia during the American Civil War. Volunteers from
the Union Army, led by civilian scout James J. Andrews, commandeered a train, The General, and took it northward toward Chattanooga, Tennessee, doing as much damage as possible to the vital Western and Atlantic Railroad (W&A) line from Atlanta to Chattanooga as they went. They were pursued by Confederate forces at first on foot, and later on a succession of locomotives, including The Texas, for 87 miles.
“Because the Union men had cut the telegraph wires, the Confederates could not send warnings ahead to forces along the railway. Confederates eventually captured the raiders and quickly executed some as spies, including Andrews; some others were able to flee. The surviving raiders were the first to be awarded the newly created Medal of Honor by the US Congress for their actions. As a civilian, Andrews was not eligible.”2
To date, 3,517 Medal of Honor awards have been given.3 The last to receive that honor was 81-year-old Army Capt. Larry Taylor, a pilot during Vietnam. He flew his AH-1G Cobra helicopter into enemy territory to rescue four members of a reconnaissance team. Taylor “fired rockets and the Cobra’s 7.62mm mini gun to strafe enemy positions as [reconnaissance team] placed claymores, shot and ran from their position.”4 Fifty-five years later on September 5, 2023, the elderly soldier with tears in his eyes received the medal.
When called by President Biden and invited to the White House to receive the award, Taylor responded, “I thought you had to do something to receive the Medal of Honor.”5 That is great humility and the heart of a true soldier.
Bestowing honor is a good and Biblical practice. Romans 13:7 to “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” To whom does this honor belong?
Obviously, God should be the first recipient of our honor according to 1 Timothy 1:17 and several verses in the Revelation. “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Honor should be bestowed on our wives. 1 Peter 3:7 says, “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”
Another honoree are parents according to Ephesians 6:2 where we are told to “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise.)”
1 Timothy 5:3 reminds us to “Honour widows that are widows indeed.” And let’s not forget our spiritual leadership – the pastors or elders. 1 Timothy 5:17 says, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”
Honor should be given to our brothers and sisters in Christ according to Romans 12:10. “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.”
While the slave-and-master scenario in Bible days is a bit different than the boss-and-employee relationship of today, I think we could carry the analogy over based on 1 Timothy 6:1. “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.”
1 Peter 2:17 gives us two directions to give honor. “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”
Seems like there is a lot of honoring to be done today! And, while you’re at it, show some honor to yourself. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 says, “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.”
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/medal-of-honor-created
2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Locomotive_Chase
3https://mohmuseum.org/recipient-database/
4https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2024/01/30/larry-taylor-most-recent-medal-of-honor-recipient-dies-at-age-81/
5Ibid.
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