Medal of Honor Valor Trail™ App Connects Thousands of Sites That Tell Stories of America's Greatest Heroes

(Washington, D.C.) — This Medal of Honor Day, the American Battlefield Trust and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society are putting valor on the map with a new mobile app that provides access to a global network of sites tied to the lives and legacies of those 3,528 individuals who have received the nation’s highest military honor. From hometowns to far-flung battlefields, from namesake buildings to monuments and museums, together, these places tell a fuller story of Recipients’ lives, not just the combat action for which they were recognized. The Medal of Honor Valor Trail™ App is a dynamic and immersive visualization of the Medal of Honor’s full story and impact. 

“Few Americans can visit remote battlefields like Iwo Jima, but with the Medal of Honor Valor Trail™ App, they can be connected to a vast network of places with tangible and meaningful links to powerful stories,” said Trust President David Duncan. “The app creates a new and compelling to engage with our nation’s history and make Recipients’ legacies of service and sacrifice more accessible than ever.” 

“Each Medal of Honor Recipient was shaped by experiences before they ever put on a uniform, and many who returned home became pillars in their communities and in upholding the values of the Medal,” said Society President Britt Slabinski. “The Medal of Honor Valor Trail™ demonstrates that Recipients’ stories are expansive and tied to meaningful locations in their lives and memories.” 

 The Medal of Honor Valor Trail™ App is centered around an interactive map that allows users to virtually follow in the footsteps of Recipients by discovering battlefields, memorials, museums, and more. Sites can be viewed by category and pages for specific Recipients show an individual journey, from birth through enlistment, citation action, death and burial, plus listings for namesake sites — many of these hometown heroes are honored with elementary schools, local parks and other meaningful places named in their honor and memory. Wherever your travels take you, a Medal of Honor connection is probably closer than you think, as illustrated by the “Near Me” feature. And inspiring stories are easy to find through the biographies featured in the History and Heroism section. 

The app was designed by the team at Interactive Knowledge, whose thoughtful approach emphasizes meaningful user experiences. “Our goal was to create an experience that deeply connects users to the personal journeys and powerful legacies of Medal of Honor Recipients,” said Interactive Knowledge President Eric Veal. “By combining thoughtful design with intuitive technology, the app invites exploration and encourages a meaningful appreciation for the extraordinary lives of these American heroes.”  

The Medal of Honor Valor Trail™ App is available for free download via the App Store and Google Play. More sites are being added to the Trail regularly and future curated collections of Recipients with parallel stories and experiences will deepen the connections between heroes across time. And with more than 3,500 powerful stories of individuals filled with profound acts of courage and conviction by ordinary people who rose to the occasion in which they found themselves, a steady stream of biographies will also be added.  

The Trust and the Society have collaborated since 2018 to highlight the connections between Recipients across eras and the significance of the landscapes where those heroes fought. Through the Medal of Honor Valor Trail™, they created the first ever map of all 3,500 citation locations across the globe, which is a featured exhibit at the Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, the $3.5 million redesign of which received a nomination for USA Today’s “Best New Museum” of 2024. 

About the Society 

Chartered by Congress in 1958, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society's membership is comprised of those who wear our nation's highest military award for valor. Recipients are committed to serving our country in peace as they did in war by championing the values of courage, sacrifice, integrity, commitment, patriotism, and citizenship. The nonprofit Society preserves their stories and shares their values through Outreach and Education initiatives. By serving, remembering, supporting, and honoring the sacrifice of the Recipients, by sharing the stories and values inherent in them, we understand the responsibility and potential within each one of us to impact the world. Learn more at https://www.cmohs.org/ 

 About the Trust    

From a grassroots organization started by historians 30 years ago, the American Battlefield Trust has grown into one of the most successful private heritage land preservation organizations in the nation. The Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected nearly 60,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War, representing more than 160 sites in 25 states. Its 350,000 members and supporters believe in the power of place and the continued relevance of history as a means to fully understand our rights and responsibilities as Americans.  Learn more at www.battlefields.org.   

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