On July 12, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln into law Public Resolution 82, a historic legislation that laid the groundwork for the creation of the Navy Medal of Valor, later evolving into the prestigious Medal of Honor. This landmark moment marked the beginning of a long-standing tradition of recognizing the bravery and selflessness of American sailors and soldiers who put their lives on the line in the service of their country.
Prior to 1861, the United States did not have a system to award medals for valor. On December 9, 1861, Iowa Senator James W. Grimes introduced S. No. 82 in the United States Senate, a bill designed to “promote the efficiency of the Navy” by authorizing the production and distribution of “medals of honor.” On December 21, 1861, the bill was passed, authorizing 200 such medals to be produced, “which shall be bestowed upon such petty officers, seamen, landsmen and marines as shall distinguish themselves by their gallantry in action and other seamanlike qualities during the present war” (the Civil War). President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill, creating the (Navy) Medal of Honor.