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(Washington, DC) Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives met Wednesday night with 31 recipients of the Medal of Honor. The gathering was part of an effort to acknowledge the nation's greatest heroes and highlight this year's first ever national "Medal of Honor Day" which is this Sunday, March 25.

"There are only 111 living recipients of the nation's highest honor. Every state and community in which these men live should take time out this weekend to acknowledge their heroic actions," said U.S. Senator Larry Craig. The Idaho Republican is an original co-sponsor of the legislation which established the creation of Medal of Honor Day.

The date was chosen because it was on March 25 in 1863 that the first Medals of Honor were presented to six Union soldiers.

The medal was first authorized in 1861 for sailors and Marines, and the following year for Army soldiers as well. Since then, more than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded to members of all services and the Coast Guard, as well as to a few civilians who distinguished themselves with valor.

"According the Medal of Honor Society, at least five Medal of Honor recipients live in the great state of Idaho," Craig said.

•  Marine Captain Arthur Jackson lives in Boise and was awarded the medal in 1945 for his heroic actions fighting the Japanese.  
•  Army First Lieutenant Vernon Baker lives near the northern Idaho town of St. Maries, and also received the medal for his actions during World War II - fighting the Germans in Italy. Baker is the nation's only living African American World War II hero to receive the Medal of Honor. He did not receive his medal until 1997.
• Air Force Major Bernie Fisher lives in the southwest Idaho community of Kuna and received his medal in 1967 for his heroic actions in Vietnam. He was the first aviator to receive the medal while still living - all previous recipients had received the honor posthumously.
• Army Captain Ed Freeman lives in Boise and  Navy Lt. Tom Norris lives in the north Idaho community of Hayden Lake. They also received their medals for their heroic actions in Vietnam - Norris in 1976 and Freeman in 2001.

Another famous Idahoan to receive the Medal of Honor was Col. Greg "Pappy" Boyington, the legendary World War II ace whose actions were later highlighted in the "Black Sheep Squadron" television show.  Boyington was born in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and was raised in St. Maries.

"Idaho has had several men who have been recognized with the Medal of Honor. I suspect we will have many more," Craig said.

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