In 1990, Congress designated March 25 of each year as National Medal of Honor Day. The day is dedicated to all Medal of Honor recipients. The Medal of Honor is the United State’s highest military honor awarded to U.S. military personnel. The medal is awarded by the President of the United States for personal acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty. There are three versions of the medal, one for the Army, one for the Navy and one for the Air Force. Personnel serving in the Marine Corps and Coast Guard receive the Navy Medal of Honor.
Today, Theta Chi honors four brothers who are Medal of Honor recipients:
1864 - Brig. Gen. Edward Bancroft Williston, Alpha/Norwich 1856
1891 – Lt. Col. Samuel Everett Pingree, Alpha/Norwich (Honorary)
1942 – Capt. Harl Pease Jr., Zeta/New Hampshire 1939
1944 – Capt. James M. Burt, Alpha/Norwich 1939
Theta Chi also recognizes two brothers who have extended a Helping Hand through their involvement with the Medal of Honor: Nick Del Calzo (Gamma Mu/Bowling Green 1960) whose impressive book includes 144 of his contemporary portraits of MOH recipients and John Shertzer (Gamma Kappa/Miami (OH) 1998) currently serves as the Executive Director of the Medal of Honor Foundation.