Awarding the Medal of Honor to the teachers and staff who died at Sandy Hook School is about giving power back to those whose lives were taken from them. It makes it clear than these women were victors, not victims. These woman stood up to a man with an arsenal of weapons and deadly intent. They stood up to evil and triumphed.
The Medal of Honor is a military award. But there is no doubt that the sacrifice of these women was of the same order as many of our servicemen and women. I humbly submit that to award these woman this Medal honors both them and all recipients of the Award.
To allow these civilians to receive this Medal in this case is not something that is easy. It will take a special law. But this was an extraordinary sacrifice, it deserves an extraordinary response.