The 13 Medal of Honor Recipients from D-Day [OPINION]

Church bells rang all across America to celebrate the bravery of the 13 U.S. warriors who earned the Congressional Medal of Honor on D-Day 75 years ago.

The Medal of Honor is our nations highest award for bravery in combat. There have been over 3,400 individuals who have received the award since its inception in 1861, according to Military.com. Most of the warriors received their award after succumbing to wounds received by the enemy on the battlefield.

On D-Day, the following individuals earned their place in history while battling the Nazi regime for the control of France. The location after their name is the place of the bells ringing in their honor:

• Carlton W. Barrett at First United Methodist Church in Fulton, New York
• John Edward Butts at Trinity Lutheran Church in Medina, New York
• Charles N. DeGlopper at Trinity Church in Grand Island, New York
• Robert G. Cole at Trinity Baptist Church at Fort Sam Houston, Texas
• John D. Kelly at First Presbyterian Church in Venango Township, Pennsylvania
• Jimmie W. Monteith Jr. at Clifton Forge Presbyterian Church in Low Moor, Virginia
• Carlos C. Ogden at Presbyterian Church in Borton, Illinois
• John J. Pinder Jr. at Paris Presbyterian Church in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania
• Theodore Roosevelt at North Shore Community Church in Oyster Bay, New York
• Walter D. Ehlers at C.L. Hover Opera House in Junction City, Kansas
• Joe Gandara at St. Monica Catholic Community Church in Santa Monica, California
• Frank D. Peregory at St. Stephen's Church in Esmont, Virginia
• Arthur F. Defranzos at Cliftondale Congregational Church in Saugus, Massachusetts

The bell ringing was organized by the National Medal of Honor Museum.

Chris McCarthy is the host of The Chris McCarthy Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Contact him at chris.mccarthy@townsquaremedia.com and follow him on Twitter @Chris_topher_Mc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.