Meet the Gettysburg Veteran That Received the Medal of Honor Today

Earlier this afternoon, President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to First Lieutenant Alonzo H. Cushing for his heroic acts of bravery while serving as an artillery commander during the Civil War.

Typically, the Medal of Honor is awarded within a few years of the action, but as the President noted, "sometimes even the most extraordinary stories can get lost in the passage of time."

"For this American family, this story isn’t some piece of obscure history -- it is an integral part of who they are," he said. "And today, our whole nation shares their pride, and celebrates what this story says about who we are."

Watch the President's full remarks here.