The Pentagon announced that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recognized 50 U.S. service members on Tuesday with the Mexican Border Defense Medal, an award the department reestablished in August 2025. Service medals are not given in a ceremony on a neck ribbon EVER. Service medals are not given in a ceremony on a neck ribbon EVER. Certainly not with a neck ribbon like the Medal of Honor! After the Mexican Border Defense Medals were presented, President Trump passed out what he called “another medal” to the soldiers.