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State of Illinois Mandate for Grade 7 & High School U.S. History and Government
The Illinois General Assembly has passed Public Act Public Act 096-0099 that amends the School Code – “Each school district shall require that all students in grade 7 and all high school students enrolled in a course concerning history of the United States or a combination of history of the United States and American government view a Congressional Medal of Honor film made by the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. This Act takes effect July 1, 2009.” |
"Medal of Honor - In Their Own Words 2009"
From the Illinois State Board of Education
This ISBE link was sent by Mike Hatfill, Curriculum and Instruction, Illinois State Board of Education. It is about 11 minutes in length. This video meets the state requirement. |
"Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor "
From GreatAmericans.com
"Great Americans visitors can view videos featuring everyday American heroes submitted by military personnel, military support organizations, veteran's groups, law enforcement, fire and rescue and NASA. Visitors are invited to join in the Great Americans movement and upload videos, comment and discuss content, or visit an online memorial to American heroes in uniform who have been wounded or lost their lives in the line of duty." This video is about the Congressional Medal of Honor and the link was sent by KIDS. |
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Congressional Medal of Honor Society
From comh.org
“The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States. Generally presented to its recipient by the President of the United States of America in the name of Congress.” |
Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation
From cmohfoundation.org
"Education is the only enterprise that guarantees that a society remains free. Neither great wealth nor surfeit of arms will suffice, and history is strewn with the ashes of civilizations whose people valued themselves more than liberty. It is only through education that our children can understand the precious gift that they have inherited - and the sacrifice required to keep it." Jack Jacobs, Medal of Honor recipient |
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The Congressional Medal of Honor
From the National Rites of Passage Institute
"Who was the first Black American to win the Congressional Medal of Honor? Claims have been made for several soldiers. Some claim that Private Wanton won this honor in the Spanish-American War. But Buffalo Soldiers won a Medal of Honor before that in the Indian Wars. Others make the Claim for Sergeant William Carney." Read about African Americans whose heroic measures earned them the Congressional Medal of Honor.
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Medal of Honor - Life of Theodore Roosevelt
From 1898 to 2001
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt earned the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously. On January 16, 2001, President Bill Clinton presented the medal to Tweed Roosevelt, TR’s great grandson. President Clinton remarked, “The … Medal of Honor I award today is for the bravery of Lt. Colonel Theodore Roosevelt on July 1, 1898. That was the day he led his volunteer troops, the Rough Riders, in taking San Juan Hill, which changed the course of the battle and the Spanish-American War." Read more about it at this link. |
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World War I Recipient
Sgt. Alvin C. York
"Born December 13, 1887 in a two-room dogtrot log cabin in Pall Mall, Tennessee, and raised in a rural backwater in the northern section of Fentress County, Alvin C. York was a semi-skilled laborer when drafted in 1917. Quite literally having never traveled more than fifty miles from his home, York's war experience served as an epiphany awakening him to a more complex world." "When asked how he wanted to be remembered, the old sergeant said he wanted people to remember how he tried to improve basic education in Tennessee because he considered a solid education the true key to success." |
World War I Recipient
From the Sargent York Project in France
"The story of Alvin York has caused intrigue over many years. His fight in the Argonne forest on 8 October 1918 lasted for only a very short time, but his fighting ability and coolness under fire elevated him to a category that exceeded anything he could ever have contemplated." |
World War I Recipient
From the Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation
"Sgt. York's heroics on the battlefield in Argonne are legendary. See how he got his start in the Army, view photos, first hand accounts, the equipment he used during the war, and read his diary and even view memorabilia from the Argonne site!" And more! |
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World War II Recipient, Audie Murphy
From the Audie Murphy Memorial Web Site
"The Audie L. Murphy Memorial Web Site site has been established to preserve the memory, honor, and history of the late Audie L. Murphy, most decorated American combat soldier of World War II who died tragically in an airplane accident in 1971. He received every decoration for valor that this country had to offer plus 5 decorations presented to him by France and Belgium." |
World War II Recipient
Audie Murphy
"During Murphy's 3 years active service as a combat soldier in World War II, Audie became one of the best fighting combat soldiers of this or any other century. What Audie accomplished during this period is most significant and probably will never be repeated by another soldier, given today's high-tech type of warfare. The U.S. Army has always declared that there will never be another Audie Murphy." |
Audie Leon Murphy, Major, United States Army
From the Arlington National Cemetery Website
"One of the most decorated American combat soldiers in history. He enlisted in the US Army at age 17 for service in World War II. Received battlefield promotions while capturing more medals than any other US soldier, including the Congressional Medal of Honor. Following the war, he turned to acting in movies, starring in the story of his life , 'To Hell And Back.'" |
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Audie Murphy
From the Arlington National Cemetery
"He wanted to join the Marines, but he was too short. The paratroopers wouldn't have him either. Reluctantly, he settled on the infantry, enlisting to become nothing less than one of the most-decorated heroes of World War II. He was Audie Murphy, the baby-faced Texas farmboy who became an American Legend. Murphy grew up on a sharecropper's farm in Hunt County, Texas. Left at a very young age to help raise 10 brothers and sisters when his father deserted their mother, Audie was only 16 when his mother died. He watched as his brothers and sisters were doled out to an orphanage or to relatives." |
Medal of Honor Lesson Plan
From the Pritzker Military Library
"This lesson involves watching or listening to a program called Medal of Honor with Ed Tracy, which is taped at the Pritzker Military Library and available to view on the Pritzker Military Library website or through interlibrary loan." This lesson connects to Illinois Learning Standards. |
Medal of Honor with Ed Tracy
the Pritzker Military Library
"Medal of Honor with Ed Tracy covers World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The majority of the programs are with Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients." Listen to the stories of recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. |
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Medal of Honor: Portraits of Valor Beyond the Call of Duty
Lesson Plans for Grades 9-12
Lesson plans to honor Idaho's veterans but adaptable to Illinois. Ponder these quotations: “I’d rather have the Medal of Honor than be president of the United States.” Harry S Truman and
“Courage is rightly esteemed the first of human qualities because it is the quality that guarantees
all others.” Sir Winston Churchill |
Mary Walker
First Woman to Win the Congressional Medal of Honor
"Mary Edwards Walker is the only female veteran to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for her services during the Civil War. However, along with thousands of other women, she received recognition for her military services in an American Memorial in October 1997. Mary E. Walker could be considered an eccentric personality of her era. She was born in the Town of Oswego, New York, into an abolitionist family in 1832..." |
Black American Soldiers in the Civil War
Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient William H. Carney
"This lesson supplements a Social Studies unit on the Civil War, including President Lincoln’s decision to authorize Black men to join the military and the study of the Battle of Ft. Wagner." |
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A Janitor's 10 Lessons in Leadership
The Bill Crawford Story
"William 'Bill' Crawford certainly was an unimpressive figure, one you could easily overlook during a hectic day at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Mr. Crawford, as most of us referred to him back in the late 1970s, was our squadron janitor..." |
The Bill Crawford Story
Beyond the Medal of Honor
Ideas with which to examine the life of William "Bill"Crawford and his leadership lessons. |
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United States Army
Medal of Honor - The Nation's Medal for Valor
"Medals of Honor are awarded sparingly and are bestowed only to the bravest of the brave; and that courage must be well documented. So few Medals of Honor are awarded, in fact, that there have only been five bestowed posthumously for service in Iraq and Afghanistan. The most recent recipients are Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith, Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham, Navy SEAL Master-at-Arms Michael A. Monsoor, Army Spc. Ross A. McGinnis for valor in Iraq, and Navy Lt. Michael P. Murphy for valor in Afghanistan." |
Military Women Lesson Plan
From PBS
"This lesson should take 15 -20 minutes and may be used to discuss the following with your students:
• the recent rescue of Private Jessica Lynch by coalition forces
• the history of women in the U.S. military
• the current status of women in the military and their roles in the war in Iraq" |
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Beyond the Call of Duty - Heroism and the Medal of Honor
For Grades 7-12
"Objectives:
• Create class definition of the characteristics of a 'hero' and descriptions of 'heroic actions.'
• Identify personal heroes and place them in categories or classify them.
• Understand the purpose and history of the Medal of Honor.
• Work cooperatively with a study partner to research, write, and present information on Medal of Honor recipients.
• Summarize biographical research and place actions in a historic context and perspective.
• Evaluate class presentations and re-define the class definitions of “hero” and “heroic actions" |
Medal of Honor Fact Sheet
From WETA
“The Medal of Honor is the only U.S. military award worn around the neck as opposed to being pinned on the uniform. Among other privileges, Medal of Honor recipients receive invitations to attend presidential inaugurations and accompanying festivities.” |
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