Union soldiers were awarded Medals of Honor for their actions at Gettysburg

Another fact is that Union soldiers were awarded Medals of Honor for their actions at Gettysburg. The battle claimed the most losses in the war and is widely regarded as a historic moment in the civil war. For the Gettysburg Campaign, 72 Medals of Honor were awarded. 64 of the honors were given for deeds committed during the fight, with the first being given in December 1864. Because of the nature of this medal, it is frequently, though by no means solely, awarded posthumously. President Barack Obama presented the most recent Medal of Honor for heroism at Gettysburg to Alonzo Cushing in 2014.

During the American Civil War in 1862, the Medal of Honor was established. It was and still is the highest military honor bestowed by the US government on a member of its armed services. The Gettysburg Campaign was a Civil War campaign in the United States. Between June 3 and July 24, Union and Confederate forces fought in southern Pennsylvania, Maryland, and northern Virginia. The primary and eponymous battle of the campaign was the Battle of Gettysburg. The honorees must have distinguished themselves above and above the call of duty in combat against an enemy of the United States. The award criteria have evolved over time, and the current criteria do not correspond to those used for Civil War prizes.