As the United States prepares for its 250th anniversary, the Medal of Honor is being highlighted as the highest symbol of bravery and a unifying sign of shared sacrifice.

在美國準備慶祝建國 250 週年之際，榮譽勳章被視為最高等級的勇敢象徵，以及一個凝聚共同犧牲精神的標誌。

The Medal of Honor is governed by strict federal rules. To receive it, a person must perform an act of bravery in combat that goes far beyond their normal duties, often risking their own life. Because the verification process is so thorough—requiring witness statements and presidential approval—only 3,536 people have received it out of 40 million service members. Furthermore, because the award is specifically for combat, very few women have received it; in fact, there has been only one female recipient so far.

榮譽勳章由嚴格的聯邦法規管轄。要獲得此勳章，個人必須在戰鬥中表現出遠超於正常職責的勇氣，且通常需要冒生命危險。由於核實程序非常徹底——需要證人陳述及總統批准——因此在 4,000 萬名服役人員中，僅有 3,536 人獲頒。此外，由於該獎項專為戰鬥而設，獲得勳章的女性極少；事實上，至今僅有一名女性獲獎。

Historically, the award began during the American Civil War. It represents a balance between two American values: individual freedom and a commitment to the group. While freedom focuses on the individual, the Medal of Honor emphasizes putting the lives of others first. This balance reflects the basic idea of the republic, where the security of the individual depends on everyone supporting one another.

從歷史上看，該獎項始於美國內戰期間。它代表了兩種美國價值觀之間的平衡：個人自由與對團體的承諾。雖然自由關注個人，但榮譽勳章強調將他人的生命置於首位。這種平衡反映了共和國的基本理念，即個人的安全取決於每個人互相支持。

Recipients from over 20 different conflicts often say that their actions were not about being brave, but about doing their professional duty. For example, veterans like Col. Jack Jacobs and Spc. 5 Jim McCloughan described their decisions as necessary responses to a crisis. After their service, many recipients become community leaders. Consequently, programs like the Medal of Honor Character Development Program now work to teach values of integrity and citizenship to students in schools.

來自 20 多個不同衝突地區的獲獎者經常表示，他們的行動並非為了展現勇敢，而是為了履行專業職責。例如，像傑克·雅各布斯上校 (Col. Jack Jacobs) 和 Jim McCloughan 二等兵 (Spc. 5 Jim McCloughan) 等退伍軍人，將其決定描述為對危機的必要反應。在服役之後，許多獲獎者成為了社區領袖。因此，如「榮譽勳章品格發展計劃」等項目，現在致力於向學校學生傳授誠信與公民意識的價值觀。

The Medal of Honor remains a rare honor that shows how selflessness and moral courage are necessary for the continued stability of the nation.

榮譽勳章依然是一項罕見的榮譽，顯示出無私與道德勇氣對於維持國家穩定至關重要。