Introduced in 1861, the Medal of Honor is the highest military award of the United States Armed Forces. Out of some 40 million Americans who have served in uniform since the Civil War, only a total of just over 3,500 people have been awarded the Medal for conspicuous acts of gallantry and valor.
In honor of all the Yalies who served in uniform throughout the generations, an initiative was recently launched to preserve and promote understanding of Yale’s contributions to the military history and national defense of the United States. Spearheaded by the Yale Veterans Association (YVA), an alumni organization dedicated to supporting veterans and the military community, and in collaboration with the Yale Visitor Center , the Yale Military History & Traditions Tour (virtual) consists of over 40 historical and contemporary images with in-depth descriptions covering the background and culture of military service at Yale since the Revolutionary War.