Medal for Valor The New York State Medal for Valor awarded to Sgt. Henry Johnson, a New York National Guardsman who in 2015 received a Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions during World War I. The Medal for Valor, the state's highest honor, was awarded to Johnson on Nov. 9, 2015, during a ceremony marking the display of his Medal of Honor in the New York State Capitol. SHARE IMAGE: Download Image: Full Size (1.12 MB) Photo By: Army Sgt. Maj. Corinr Lombardo, New York National Guard VIRIN: 151109-Z-NU174-003.JPG Photo Gallery