GOV. RITTER WELCOMES MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS TO COLORADO

 

Gov. Bill Ritter today welcomed Medal of Honor recipients and their families to Colorado during the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's annual convention at the Sheraton Denver Hotel (formerly the Adam's Mark).

 

Of the 100 living Medal of Honor recipients, 65 recipients and their families are in Denver for this year's weeklong conference. Gov. Ritter is honorary co-chair of the convention's Host Committee along with Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper.

 

"The sacrifices you and your families have made for our country is something we shall never forget," Gov. Ritter said. "It's a debt we shall never be able to fully repay. From our own City of Pueblo, which we call Home of Heroes, we have four Medal of Honor recipients, the highest concentration of recipients of any city in the United States. Your service to the security of our nation and establishing our presence around the globe is vitally important, because as we know and as you have shown, freedom isn't free."

 

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed upon an individual serving in theU.S. armed services. It was created by Congress in 1861 and the medal is bestowed by the President of the United States.