Congressional Gold Medal

The Golden Congressional Medal of Honor (English Congressional Gold Medal ) in addition to the peer Presidential Medal of Freedom one of the two highest civilian awards in the United States.

It is awarded jointly by both houses of the United States Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The first holder of the Medal of Honor was George Washington, which it was awarded by the Continental Congress on 25 March 1776.

The Golden Congressional Medal of Honor is not to be confused with the also conferred on behalf of the Congress Medal of Honor, the highest award of the American armed forces for outstanding bravery in combat.