LETTER: Remember Vermont’s Medal of Honor recipients on March 25
March 18, 2025To the Community:
As a veteran, when I hear the words “Medal of Honor,” I think of those military men and women who have gone far beyond their expectations of duty, many giving their lives to save their fellow comrades or shipmates. Vermont has had a number of Medal of Honor recipients -- 66 to be exact -- who were born or enlisted in Vermont, with their honor being credited to Vermont.
Dating from the Civil War when the Medal of Honor was established, Vermont can claim some of the most unique recipients. The youngest recipient Willie Johnston, was a Civil War musician who was only 13 years of age from Salem (now part of Derby), and remains the youngest individual to receive the Medal of Honor. The first submariner and only enlisted submariner, Henry Breault of Grand Isle, whose Medal of Honor was presented by President Calvin Coolidge of course from Vermont! Of only eight submariners to receive the Medal of Honor, two of those were credited to Vermont.
Of the remaining Vermont recipients, time slowly washes away their heroic feats from memory from the public consciousness. In 1991 President George Bush signed into public law to establish 25 March as Medal of Honor Day. On 25 March 1863 when the first Medal of Honor was awarded, the date of 25 March is to remind us of the importance of the valor, bravery, and unshakable courage displayed while in harm’s way at the risk of the recipient's life.
Over 40 million men and women have served in the U.S. military and just over 3,500 have been awarded the Medal of Honor. All of the Vermont recipients are too many to list here. I encourage you to visit the Congressional Medal of Honor website to learn more about those veterans and fellow Vermonters and take a moment of pause to honor their service to our state and country.
More information is also online from the Vermont Historical Society.
Every day, America’s service members selflessly put their lives on the line to keep us safe and free. Please take a moment to let our troops know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice.
And on March 25, at approximately 10 a.m., there will be a legislative resolution read to honor the Vermont Medal of Honor recipients. All veterans able to attend this reading are encouraged to visit at the State House in Montpelier.
Bill Mattoon
Vermont Green Mountain Base
United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. (USSVI)