For the first time in coordinated fashion, non governmental organizations played a serious role alongside their governmental counterparts in public health, working to organize Sanitary Fairs to benefit wounded and disabled soldiers.

FORBES: What Abraham Lincoln Never Knew

Prince Harry accepted the award on behalf of his brother, the Duke of Cambridge, who also campaigns for disabled and wounded servicemen and women.

BBC: Prince Harry praises wounded 'heroes' during US trip

Achilles has also developed a number of specialized programs like Achilles Kids, which works with more than 4, 000 disabled children, and the Freedom Team of Wounded Veterans, which has helped more than 1, 000 disabled veterans finish marathons across the country.

CNN: Amputee pushes disabled athletes to aspire for more

The medal, named after the pioneer of nursing, is presented every two years and honours "exceptional courage and devotion" to wounded, sick or disabled people or to civilian victims of war or a natural disaster.

BBC: Khalil Dale