Clint Romesha, who will receive the Medal of Honor next week from President Barack Obama, was honored with an honorary life membership to the North Dakota American Legion.

The membership was presented to Romesha, a former Army staff sergeant, for his distinguished service to his fellow soldiers and this nation, according to a news release. It was given to him during the North Dakota Department of the American Legion’s winter conference held Feb. 1-3 in Minot’s Grand International Inn. Romesha’s membership will be held with Post No. 26 in Minot.

Dave Rice, of Harwood, N.D. Department commander, along with Glenn Hickman, American Legion national vice commander from Ohio, presented the membership card and a Legionnaire’s “Medal of Honor-Blue Cap” to Romesha during the conference banquet Saturday.

Minot Post No. 26 welcomed Romesha into its organization and has extended the family any assistance needed to integrate them into the Minot community.

The N.D. Unit of the American Legion Auxiliary also provided Romesha’s wife, Tammy, with a lifetime membership in the American Legion Auxiliary.

During the conference, the American Legion Department of N.D. also presented its Press Association Award to Phil Parker and KFYR-Radio in Bismarck. The award was presented to Parker and the radio station for their continued support over the past 26 years to Bismarck’s Lloyd Spetz Post No. 1 for the post’s annual “Open Your Heart” holiday food and fundraising program. Over the past nine years, the radio station has assisted in raising more than $210,000 and an outstanding total amount exceeding $415,000 since the beginning of the “Open Your Heart” program. Staff also is always present to help in organizing the food donations.

Romesha will receive the Medal of Honor from President Obama during a ceremony in the White House Monday. On Tuesday, he will be inducted into the Pentagon Hall of Heroes, permanently placing his name there along with the names of nearly 3,500 others who also earned the honor.

Romesha is the fourth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.

He will receive the medal for his actions in a battle that occurred Oct. 3, 2009, in Afghanistan. He now works for KS Industries, an oil-field construction company based in Tioga.

On Jan. 25, Romesha was honored at a Minotauros hockey game in Minot. Accompanied by his wife, Tammy, Romesha dropped the ceremonial first puck and received an autographed jersey. The crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Since the announcement last month that Romesha will receive the Medal of Honor, he has given numerous interviews to local and national media. Others are scheduled after the White House and Pentagon ceremonies.