The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration

Awards and decorations of the National Guard

Awards and decorations of the National Guard are presented to members of the United States National Guard and sometimes to members of the State Defense Forces in addition to regular United States military decorations...

 that may be awarded to a member of the Texas Military Forces

Texas Military Forces

The Texas Military Forces is the combined military strength of the U.S. state of Texas. It is composed of three branches, the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard, and the Texas State Guard; all report to the state Adjutant General and are under the command of the Governor of...

. This includes Air National Guard

Air National Guard

The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...

, Army National Guard

Army National Guard

Established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...

, and State Guard. This medal may only be awarded to federal military personnel, or state military personnel who serve in the Armed Forces of the State of Texas.

Description

The neck ribbon is green with white stars, and the medal features an image of the reverse of the Seal of Texas

Seal of Texas

The Seal of the State of Texas was adopted through the 1845 Texas Constitution, and was based on the seal of the Republic of Texas, which dates from January 25, 1839.-Design:...

, including Vince's Bridge

Vince's Bridge

Vince's Bridge was a wooden bridge constructed by Allen Vince over Sims Bayou near Harrisburg, Texas. Its destruction by Texas armed forces played a critical role during the April 1836 Battle of San Jacinto in the decisive defeat of the Mexican army, which effectively ended the Texas Revolution...

, cannon of the Battle of Gonzales

Battle of Gonzales

The Battle of Gonzales was the first military engagement of the Texas Revolution. It was fought near Gonzales, Texas, on October 2, 1835, between rebellious Texian settlers and a detachment of Mexican army troops....

, Alamo Mission in San Antonio

Alamo Mission in San Antonio

The Alamo, originally known as Mission San Antonio de Valero, is a former Roman Catholic mission and fortress compound, site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, and now a museum, in San Antonio, Texas....

 and the six historical flags of Texas.

This medal takes precedence over the "Texas Medal of Valor

Texas Medal of Valor

The Texas Medal of Valor is the second highest military decoration that may be awarded to a member of the Texas Military Forces. This includes Air National Guard, Army National Guard, and State Guard...

", the state's second highest military decoration.

Institution

The following is an excerpt from Texas Code, Subtitle C, Chapter 431, Sub Chapter J:

The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor shall be awarded to a member of the state or federal military forces designated by concurrent resolution of the legislature who voluntarily performs a deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice involving risk of life that is so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the person for gallantry and intrepidity above the person's comrades. Awarding of the medal shall be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit. The medal may be awarded only on incontestable proof of performance of the deed.

Recipients

The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor has only been awarded seven times.

1. Army Technical Sergeant James M. Logan
   James M. Logan
   James Marion Logan was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II....
   
   , 36th Infantry Division, was awarded the first Texas Legislative Medal of Honor on Memorial Day 1997 at the Texas Capitol in Austin.
2. Army First Lieutenant Jack L. Knight
   Jack L. Knight
   Jack L. Knight was a United States Army officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.-Biography:...
   
   , 124th Cavalry Regiment/Mars Task Force, received the 1999 award posthumously.
3. Army Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne) was presented the medal posthumously in a joint session of the Texas Legislature in May 2001.
4. Army Colonel M B Etheredge
   M B Etheredge
   M B Etheredge was awarded the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor by the Texas Legislature for his actions during battle in World War II. House Concurrent Resolution No. 27 conferring the honor was adopted by both the House & Senate in May 2003 and approved by Governor Rick Perry in June 2003. ...
   
   , 3rd Infantry Division, received the 2003 award.
5. Army Captain Robert Thomas Edlin
   Robert Thomas Edlin
   Robert Thomas Edlin was awarded the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor by the Texas Legislature for his actions during battle in World War II. House Concurrent Resolution No. 112 conferring the honor was adopted by both the House & Senate and approved by Governor Rick Perry in March 2005...
   
   , 2nd Ranger Battalion, received the award posthumously in 2005.
6. Marine Sergeant Alfredo Cantu "Freddy" Gonzalez
   Freddy González
   Freddy González Fonten is a male long-distance runner from Venezuela. He represented his native country at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. He set his personal best in the men's 5,000 metres on July 3, 2004 in San Sebastián.-Achievements:-References:*...
   
   , 1st Marine Division, received the award posthumously in 2007.
7. Army Private Pedro Cano
   Pedro Cano
   Pedro Cano was born June 19, 1920 in La Morita, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He moved to the United States into the small community of Edinburg, Texas when he was 2 months old. There he served as a farm laborer until he volunteered to serve in the Army during World War II...
   
   , 4th Infantry Division, received the award posthumously in 2009.

Logan, Benavidez, Knight, and Gonzalez were also prior recipients of the United States Medal of Honor

Medal of Honor

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...

.
Edlin and Cano were recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross

Distinguished Service Cross (United States)

The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...

 and Etheredge was a multiple recipient of the Silver Star

Silver Star

The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....

Medal.

On 18 June 2011, it was announced that Marine Corporal Roy Cisneros, of San Antonio, will be posthumously awarded the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor, 40 years after his death in Vietnam.