The USA is 250 years old. People are talking about the Medal of Honor. This medal is for very brave soldiers.

美國已經 250 歲了。人們正在討論榮譽勳章。這枚勳章是頒發給非常勇敢的士兵的。

The Medal of Honor is a special prize. A soldier must do something very brave in a war. They must risk their life to help others. Only a few people get this medal because the rules are very strict.

榮譽勳章是一個特殊的獎項。士兵必須在戰爭中做出非常勇敢的行為。他們必須冒險以幫助他人。由於規則非常嚴格，只有少數人能獲得這枚勳章。

This medal started a long time ago during the Civil War. It shows that helping other people is more important than helping yourself. This is a big part of American life.

這枚勳章始於很久之前的內戰時期。它表明幫助他人比幫助自己更重要。這是美國生活的一個重要部分。

Many winners say they were not trying to be heroes. They only did their jobs. Now, some winners help children in schools. They teach children how to be good citizens.

許多獲獎者表示他們並非想要成為英雄，而僅僅是在履行職責。現在，有些獲獎者會在學校幫助孩子們，教導他們如何成為良好的公民。

There are 65 living winners today. They fought in different wars like Vietnam and Iraq. They still help other veterans and their communities.

目前仍有 65 位獲獎者在世。他們參加過不同的戰爭，例如越南戰爭和伊拉克戰爭。他們依然在幫助其他退伍軍人及其社區。

The Medal of Honor is rare. It shows that being selfless is important for the country.

榮譽勳章非常罕見。它表明無私對國家而言是非常重要的。

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。

In observance of the United States' 250th anniversary, the Medal of Honor is being highlighted as a definitive metric of valor and a unifying symbol of collective sacrifice.

為慶祝美國建國二百五十週年，榮譽勳章被視為衡量勇氣的決定性指標，以及集體犧牲的統一象徵。

The Medal of Honor is governed by stringent federal criteria, requiring an act of combat valor that exceeds standard duty requirements, often involving extreme personal risk. This rigorous verification process—comprising eyewitness testimony, chain-of-command review, and presidential approval—has resulted in only 3,536 recipients among 40 million service members. Due to the combat-specific requirement, the award's demographic scope has been historically limited, with only one female recipient to date.

榮譽勳章受嚴格的聯邦標準管轄，要求在戰鬥中展現出超越一般職責要求的勇氣，且通常涉及極高的個人風險。這套嚴格的核實程序——包括目擊者證詞、指揮鏈審查以及總統批准——導致在四千萬名服役人員中，僅有三千五百三十六人獲獎。由於要求必須與戰鬥相關，該獎項的受獎人口分佈在歷史上一直相當有限，至今僅有一名女性獲獎。

Historically, the award originated during the American Civil War via legislation introduced by Senators James W. Grimes and Henry Wilson. The distinction serves as a synthesis of two competing American tenets: individual liberty and collective commitment. While the former emphasizes personal autonomy, the latter is exemplified by the Medal of Honor's focus on the prioritization of others' lives over one's own. This tension mirrors the foundational logic of the republic, where individual security is predicated upon mutual interdependence.

從歷史上看，該獎項源於美國內戰期間由參議員 James W. Grimes 與 Henry Wilson 提出之立法。此殊榮是兩個相互競爭的美國原則之綜合體：個人自由與集體承擔。前者強調個人自主，而後者則體現於榮譽勳章對「將他人生命優先於自身」的重視。這種張力反映了共和國的基礎邏輯，即個人安全是建立在相互依存之上的。

Recipients, who represent a diverse cross-section of the population across more than 20 conflicts, often characterize their actions not as conscious bravery but as the fulfillment of professional and filial obligations. This sentiment is echoed by veterans such as Col. Jack Jacobs and Spc. 5 Jim McCloughan, who describe their decisions as necessary responses to critical circumstances. Post-service, many recipients transition into roles of civic leadership. For instance, the Medal of Honor Character Development Program, chaired by McCloughan, seeks to institutionalize values of integrity and citizenship within primary and secondary education.

獲獎者代表了參與二十多場衝突中不同背景的人口縮影，他們通常不將自己的行為描述為刻意的勇敢，而視為履行專業與對家庭的責任。如 Jack Jacobs 上校與 Jim McCloughan 五級兵等退伍軍人亦有相同感受，他們將當時的決定描述為面對危急情況下的必然反應。退役後，許多獲獎者轉型為公民領袖。例如，由 McCloughan 主席領導的榮譽勳章品格發展計劃，旨在將誠信與公民意識等價值觀制度化，並融入中小學教育中。

Currently, 65 living recipients maintain a fraternity based on a shared obligation to promote national values. This cohort includes veterans from the Korean and Vietnam Wars, as well as more recent engagements in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela. Their continued engagement in veteran advocacy and community outreach suggests a transition from military service to a lifelong role of moral and civic stewardship.

目前，共有六十五位在世獲獎者維持著一個基於共同促進國家價值義務的兄弟會。此群體包括參與過韓戰與越戰的退伍軍人，以及較近期參與伊拉克、阿富汗以及委內瑞拉「絕對決心行動」的軍人。他們持續參與退伍軍人倡議與社區外展活動，顯示其已從軍事服務轉型為終身的道德與公民指導角色。

The Medal of Honor remains a rare distinction that emphasizes the necessity of selflessness and moral courage for the continued stability of the state.

榮譽勳章依然是一項罕見的殊榮，強調了無私與道德勇氣對於維持國家穩定至關重要。