TAMPA, Fla. — The Medal of Honor Convention in Tampa kicked off Tuesday with an official reception for the medal recipients and a concert at the Straz Center where the recipients were the guests of honor. 

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration that's awarded by the Government.  The president presents the medal and it's awarded only to members of the armed forces who have risked their lives and gone above and beyond the call of duty. 

Forty seven of the 70 living MOH recipients are expected to attend the convention in Tampa. This will be the largest gathering of Medal of Honor recipients since the 70s.  

Speaking to us at Tuesday's reception, it was clear these men do not think of themselves as "heroes." Instead, they say the medal is bigger than one person.

"It represents the sacrifices, the service, the love that millions of men and women have had for each other and for this country over the years," said recipient Gary Beikirch, who was awarded his medal for braving intense fire in order to rescue and treat the wounded during a battle in Vietnam.

Recipient Tom Kelly, who was awarded his medal for protecting his men after being injured by a grenade, said his mission now is to teach younger generations about the values represented by the medal — courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, commitment, and integrity.

"We have to be the voice that says, 'hey, these things are important. This is what made America great — we have to continue to do that."

Following the reception, the recipients were treated to a concert by country music artist Aaron Tippin. On Wednesday and Thursday, they will visit schools and they will be guests of honor at a home Tampa Bay Lightning game. 

Friday is the Patriot Award Gala, and the week long convention wraps up on Saturday with a book signing.