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During World War II a 19 year old Marine named Richard Sorenson was preparing for his first experience in combat when the enemy threw a grenade near his fellow soldiers.  Without hesitation, Private Sorenson jumped on top of the grenade to absorb the blast and save the lives of his comrades.  Though very badly wounded, Richard Sorenson survived and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic act of self-sacrifice.  Many years later Mr. Sorenson received a letter in the mail from a young girl he did not know.  Inside the letter was an essay she had written for a college class about "The Most Important Thing in my Life".  The last line of the essay said,

"Richard Sorenson is a man I held in awe even before I learned his name, because one of the men he saved is my dad."

Medal of Honor recipients get a lot of mail, not all of it so unique, but every letter is important to them.  Each of these men feel a great responsibility to the future of America, and they realize that the future lies in the hands of our Nation's youth.  Letters from all Americans are welcome, but they especially enjoy hearing from boys and girls.  We encourage you to write a letter of appreciation to these heroes, maybe send them a birthday card (you can find all of their birthdays on one of the pages in this exhibit), or a special letter of thanks and rememberance on patriotic holidays like Veteran's Day or the Fourth of July.

The first time you write to a Medal of Honor recipient you will have to send your letter to him through The Congressional Medal Of Honor Society.  It's not like their addresses are a "National Secret", it is just a matter of courtesy to protect their privacy.  The Medal of Honor Society will forward your letter, unopened, to the recipient to whom it is addressed.  You can rest assured that your letter will reach its destination.  That is a big part of what the Medal of Honor Society is all about.  We have prepared a special page to tell you about the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, and you can even visit their web site.  In our page on the Society we'll also tell you about the Medal of Honor Museum.

What is The Medal of Honor Society

The Congressional Medal of Honor Society 40 Patriots Point Road Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464

Visit the MOH Society On the Web

• If you are a young person.....think about making your letter to a Medal of Honor recipient a project for your entire class at school.  Talk to your teacher about it and make it a class project to not only write a letter, but to maybe even "adopt a recipient".  Our page on IDEAS FOR SCHOOLS contains some ideas to make it a fun and educational activity.

• If you are a teacher or other youth worker.....realize what a wonderful resource these men provide for your own efforts.   There really is no greater role model to share with the boys and girls you work to inspire and challenge.  USE this resource!

• If you are a veteran.....remember that the men who wear the Medal of Honor do so, not to bring to mind their own heroic act, but to symbolize the valor of all who have served to defend freedom.  These men survive to represent YOU!

• If you are an American.....realize that the freedom you enjoy wasn't free...it was bought with the lives of more than ONE MILLION soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen.  When you honor our heroes, you honor ALL veterans of military service.

Guidelines to help you contact a Medal of Honor recipient:

Decide WHO you want to write to and learn something about them.  Read their citation and maybe look for additional information on them in your local public library.   Address your letter to ___(name)___, MOH - C/O The Congressional Medal of Honor Society - (address listed above).  Also remember to refer to them as Medal of Honor "recipients"--not "winners"!  This simple act demonstrates that you care enough to learn something about the award they wear. Don't write to ask THEM for things (autographs, copies of their citations, photos, etc.), write to GIVE them something....your sincere thanks. If you wish a reply, extend the courtesy of enclosing a self-addressed/stamped envelope.   Most Medal of Honor recipients are everyday people like you and I.  Unlike most other celebrities, their fame has not translated into fortune...only a lot of personal responsibility.  Please be patient if you don't receive a reply quickly enough.  Most of our living recipients are now well into their 70's and still live at a busy pace speaking in schools, attending patriotic functions, and other civic activities (usually at their own expense). Treasure any response you do receive from a Medal of Honor recipient.  They are a rare and vanishing part of our American heritage.

 

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