Medal of Honor winner Staff Sgt. Ryan Pitts was honored for his service in his home state Tuesday night.

Pitts, who received the nation’s highest military award at the White House in July, was thanked for his service at a ceremony in Concord.

“I’m here today because nine of my brothers made the ultimate sacrifice,” Pitts said.

Pitts became the ninth living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the war on terror began.

Injured and under heavy fire during the 2008 Battle of Wanat, Pitts helped keep 200 Taliban fighters at bay, saving lives during the deadliest firefight of the war in Afghanistan.

“I think about what we did together. I think about the guys we lost, what they meant to me. I have a wife now and a son, and a daughter on the way, and it’s because of the sacrifice they made,” Pitts said.

Pitts’ injuries forced him to retire from the Army.

Although he graciously accepted words of thanks and the key to the city of Nashua, where he lived, Pitts said he wears the Medal of Honor to honor his fallen brothers.

“No one gave more than they did, and it’s their names and their deeds that everyone should know – Sergio, Jonathan, Jason, Bogar,” he said. “This is ours. It belongs to every man that was there that day, and especially those we couldn’t bring home.”