The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration that may be awarded to a member of the Texas National Guard. This includes Air National Guard, Army National Guard, and State Guard. This medal may also be awarded to federal military personnel, or state military personnel of other states. The neck ribbon is green with white stars, and the medal features an image of the Alamo Mission in San Antonio and the six historical flags of Texas.
The following is an excerpt from Texas Code, Subtitle C, Chapter 431: [1] The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor shall be awarded to a member of the state or federal military forces designated by concurrent resolution of the legislature who voluntarily performs a deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice involving risk of life that is so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the person for gallantry and intrepidity above the person's comrades. Awarding of the medal shall be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit. The medal may be awarded only on incontestable proof of performance of the deed. This medal takes precedence over the "Texas Medal of Valor", the state's second highest military decoration. The Legislative Medal of Honor has only been awarded six times. James M. Logan was awarded the first Legislative Medal of Honor on Memorial Day 1997 at the Texas Capitol in Austin and in May 2001 a joint session of the Texas Legislature, the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry, presented the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor posthumously to MSgt. Roy P. Benavidez. Logan and Benavidez were also prior recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Lt. Jack L. Knight received the 1999 award. Col. M B Etheredge received the 2003 award. Capt. Robert Thomas Edlin received the award in 2005. Sgt. Alfredo "Freddy" Gonzalez received the award in 2007.
External links
- Photo of Medal
- 2003 Award. Governor of Texas, Rick Perry presents a plaque to Col. M B Etheredge commemorating his Legislative Medal of Honor during a ceremony in the Governor's reception room as Jinny Thomason, the Colonel's daughter, watches.
- 2005 Award Governor of Texas, Rick Perry presents the medal to Robert Thomas Edlin's family on board the USS Lexington, The Herald Democrat.
- 2007 Award HCR 121 awarding Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to Freddy Gonzalez.
