WASHINGTON, D.C. – The “Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act” sponsored by Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has unanimously passed the Senate.  The legislation will allow up to 100,000 five dollar gold coins and 500,000 one dollar silver coins to be issued to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the initial authorization of the Medal of Honor by Congress.  The “Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Act” could generate up to $8.5 million in funding for the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation.

“The Medal of Honor represents men and women in uniform at their very best, courage and patriotism, grit and guts personified,” said Sen. Kerry.  “This vote was a humble offering of thanks to the 3,448 American service members who have given so selflessly out of love for their country.”

"We are grateful to all those who wear the uniform of our Armed Forces and serve and sacrifice on behalf of our great nation," said Sen. Graham.  "The Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin honors those who have distinguished themselves courageously by going beyond the call of duty.  We owe these heroes a debt of gratitude that our nation can never fully repay. We must never forget their sacrifice and will always keep the Fallen and their families in our thoughts and prayers."

“Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Medal of Honor with a U.S. Coin is a wonderful tribute to all the men and women who have served this great country in uniform with the same courage and selflessness as our Medal of Honor recipients,” said Thomas J. Hudner (USN-Ret.), a Medal of Honor recipient and Korean War veteran from Concord, Massachusetts. “They continue to serve today on our behalf to protect our freedoms.”

“The Medal of Honor Foundation is very grateful to Senators Kerry and Graham for their leadership in the establishment of a Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin,” said Nick Kehoe, President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation.  “The Foundation is proud to help perpetuate the Medal of Honor's rich legacy of courage, sacrifice and selflessness through this coin honoring the Medal's 150^th anniversary.”

Established in 1999, the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that perpetuates the legacy of the Medal of Honor and promotes the ideals of heroism and selfless service. Its work toward these ends has included the distribution of informational materials on the Medal of Honor, the production of more than 100 video histories of recipients of America’s highest military award for valor told in each recipient’s own words, educational programs, and museum exhibits. The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is an organization comprised exclusively of the fewer than 100 living Medal of Honor recipients.

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