‘In the midst of greatness': A-list stars toast opening of National Medal of Honor Museum
Arlington rolled out the red carpet on Saturday for celebrities, entertainers, a former president and some of America's finest to celebrate the opening of the new National Medal of Honor Museum.
The museum in the heart of the city's entertainment district opens to the public on Tuesday — National Medal of Honor Day — but it hosted a black-tie VIP event on Saturday evening to honor some of the men whose names are now forever enshrined right here in North Texas.
After a toast led by Marine Kyle Carpenter, the nation's youngest living Medal of Honor recipient, guests gathered in the museum's rotunda. As the U.S. Air Force Band performed, Gov. Greg Abbott and former President George W. Bush cut a ribbon, dedicating the museum and memorial to selflessness and sacrifice.
The guest list included about 30 of the 61 living Medal of Honor recipients, including U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady, whose Vietnam-era Bell UH-1 Iroquois 'Huey' helicopter is on prominent display in the museum. Also in attendance were Dallas Cowboys Dak Prescott and Jake Ferguson.
Savannah Guthrie, co-anchor of NBC's 'Today,' emceed a dinner for the recipients.
'We stand in the midst of greatness,' Guthrie told the crowd, adding that the timing is perfect because 'never before have we needed the values of honor, sacrifice and love.'
Lee Greenwood performed his patriotic hit 'God Bless the USA,' and Actor Gary Sinise, known for his support of the military and service members, was on hand for the celebration.
Sinise called the museum magnificent — and something love overdue to recognize American heroes.
'I think for the recipients, especially those who are older, the fact that this is going to be opened tonight and they lived to see it is a very, very significant thing,' Sinise said.
The museum's architecture is steeped in symbolism. A massive steel block that houses the exhibits sits atop five pillars, one each for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. The pillars represent the weight that service members bear.
The outdoors rotunda will be open to visitors 24 hours a day. Inside on the ground floor is a ring of honor with the names of all the recipients going back to the first soldiers to receive the Medal of Honor, in 1863 during the Civil War.
Upstairs are approximately 200 exhibits, which will rotate in the years to come, highlighting recipients' stories. There you'll find things like Sgt. Alvin York's pistol and Bible from World War I. There is a jacket, guitar and other personal effects that belonged to Texan Audie Murphy, one of the most decorated soldiers in World War II.
Beginning March 25, the National Medal of Honor Museum will be open daily from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tickets start at $30 for ages 13 to 64; adding a virtual reality experience starts at $40, and VIP guided tours are from $60. Boeing is sponsoring the tickets of all U.S. veterans with valid ID who visit the museum March 25 to 28.
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