WASHINGTON » The Smithsonian Institution is announcing a seven-city tour to showcase the Congressional Gold Medal awarded in 2011 to Japanese American veterans from World War II.

The medal was awarded to the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service veterans. It was given in recognition of their service, sacrifice and loyalty to America.

The tour begins in January at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. From there it will be shown at museums in Honolulu, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Ore., Chicago and Houston.

The medal will be shown with an iPad application and educational website.

After the tour, the medal will go on permanent display in the military history gallery at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington.