Congressional Medal of Honor awardees were welcomed to the Big Island with a water cannon salute and Hawaiian music, hula and lei Sunday at Kona International Airport.
Congressional Medal of Honor awardees were welcomed to the Big Island with a water cannon salute and Hawaiian music, hula and lei Sunday at Kona International Airport.
The awardees are part of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society that met this week in Honolulu for its annual convention. They flew to Hawaii Island on Sunday for three days of post-convention activities.
The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor that can be bestowed on a member of the U.S. armed forces. It’s presented by the President on behalf of Congress.
Over the past 151 years, 3,459 recipients have been awarded the medal, according to the society. Only 81 living recipients remain today, among them are two Hawaii residents.
The Medal of Honor Society gathers each year to reunite living members who are dedicated to inspiring youth; honoring patriots and exemplary citizens; and remembering those recipients who’ve died. The society was chartered by legislation signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on Aug. 5, 1958.
In appreciation of the awardees’ service to the United States, Hawaiian Airlines provided the awardees and guests complimentary tickets for their round-trip flights between Honolulu and Kona. The Big Island Visitors Bureau sponsored the traditional Hawaiian-style airport arrival.