Medal of Honor recipients to soon gather in Detroit for historic convention

In less than one month, Medal of Honor recipients will descend upon Detroit and the metro area for a special gathering, the 2026 Congressional Medal of Honor Society Convention. 

In November 2024, it was announced that the city of Detroit will host the convention. 

“I went out with three other folks and made the pitch that they have not had a convention in the Midwest since 2009, and they have never had one in Detroit,” Valde Garcia said in response to why the Congressional Medal of Honor Society wanted the convention to be in Detroit. “Most are on the east coast, or in the south. I told them that Michigan has a history of supporting the military and was the Arsenal of Democracy.” 

Garcia is the immediate past president of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Michigan Chapter. For the convention in Detroit, Garcia is the planning committee deputy chair. 

Some members of the 2026 Congressional Medal of Honor Society Convention Planning Committee are seen at The War Memorial earlier this year.

From Sept. 30 to Oct. 3, Detroit will host the 2026 Congressional Medal of Honor Society Convention. This marks the first time that the convention, the largest annual gathering of America's 65 living Medal of Honor recipients, will be in Michigan. 

In May at An Evening of Red, White & Blue - The War Memorial’s signature annual gala – two tickets to the convention’s Patriot Awards Gala were auctioned off. The Patriot Awards Gala recognizes Americans whose lives and leadership reflect the ideals embodied by the Medal of Honor. This year’s honorees include Kid Rock, David Norquist, and Mort Crim. The recipient of the Patriot Award, the Society’s highest civilian honor, has not yet been announced. 

Medal of Honor Recipient Jim McCloughan is the 2026 Medal of Honor Celebration liaison. McCloughan, of Saugatuck, is a Vietnam War veteran and one of two living recipients from Michigan. The 79-year-old was the keynote speaker at The War Memorial’s Veterans Day Breakfast in 2025.    

As liaison, Garcia said that McCloughan is assisting in planning and making sure that the needs of recipients and their families are met. 

“It’s a chance for him to show off his home state,” Garcia said. “He and his wife Cherie will be instrumental in helping is plan a really good event.”    

Garcia commented that with over 700,000 veterans in Michigan, and with its rich history of supporting the nation’s defense, it makes sense to have the convention in Detroit. 

“In the Midwest there are a lot of people who go into the service, and I think people ought to see examples of men who have sacrificed much in the service of their country,” he said. “The values that recipients bring are values that we need to share with children in school. It’s a means to share the values that the value represents.”  

Garcia attended the 2024 convention in San Antonio, and the 2025 convention in Chattanooga. 

Held during the commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary, the 2026 Convention carries added national significance as Medal of Honor Recipients join civic, military, business, and community leaders in recognizing individuals whose lives and leadership reflect the values represented by the nation’s highest award for valor. 

For more details on the convention, visit medalofhonordetroit.com.