Latest news with #TheNationalMedalofHonorMuseum
CBS News
25-03-2025
- General
- CBS News
National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington now open to the public
The National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington is now open to the public. The Medal of Honor is our nation's highest honor for valor in combat. Close to 200 people lined up outside the museum, waiting for the doors to open at 10 a.m. Many of the visitors were veterans, some coming from as far as Alabama and Colorado. Seeing a permanent home for the stories of the Medal of Honor recipients brought up a lot of emotions. "I have 105 guys' names on the Vietnam Wall that were in my company. Two of them are Medal of Honor recipients," said Richard Grady, an Army veteran from Plano. He brought a bus of 75 veterans from Collin County to Arlington to experience the museum. "So for them coming out here, it's different than coming out to a ballgame, different than coming out to a football game, a sporting event or a concert," he said. "This is a very humbling experience… This is a very sacred place for veterans, very sacred place for the military and the United States." Since the Civil War, about 40 million Americans have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Less than 4,000 of them have received the Medal of Honor. Charlie Garza, a Navy veteran from Grand Prairie, met one of the recipients, Commander Eugene Fluckey, 25 years ago. Seeing his name on display, along with the stories of all the other servicemembers who went far beyond the call of duty, moved Garza. "It means that for the first time in my lifetime, we're truly starting to recognize the courage and the honor and the commitment necessary to defend this great nation of ours," he said. Garza hopes it helps the next generation understand the true cost of the freedom we enjoy today. Shoshana Adams, nine years old, said she learned a lot. "A lot about history and how a lot of people sacrificed themselves to save lives," she said. Both of her parents served in the Air Force. They brought the entire family out for the museum's opening. "We always want to teach our children about the sacrifices others have made and why we chose to serve," said Ann Adams, an Air Force veteran from Midlothian. By honoring and preserving the courage of military servicemembers past and present, we ensure that never forget the sacrifices they made. "Just come out here," said Grady. "Take the time. Look at the stories. Watch the videos." This week, admission is free for veterans. Tickets start at $30.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
National Medal of Honor Museum opening: Some names you may not expect
The Brief The National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington spans 100,000-square-feet in the city's entertainment district. The museum houses the name of each Medal of Honor recipient. The museum opens to the public on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. ARLINGTON, Texas - A new museum devoted to telling the stories of those who have received the nation's highest military honor is opening this coming week in Texas. The National Medal of Honor Museum is set to open Tuesday in Arlington, just west of Dallas. It highlights the lives and service of Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War to the global war on terrorism. The Medal of Honor is awarded by Congress for risking one's life in combat beyond the call of duty. By the numbers Through the front doors, visitors are greeted with the "Ring of Valor," which contains the names of all 3,528 Medal of Honor recipients - the military's highest distinction. Big picture view As visitors move upstairs, the first exhibit they'll encounter is "Moments of Action." The exhibit is an immersive experience, transporting people to the battlefields where these awards are earned. After leaving the Ring of Valor, visitors will have a chance to see the "Rails to Rotors" exhibit that highlights the equipment and machinery that troops have used throughout history. Among its exhibits is one of the largest artifacts in the museum, a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter. They were used in "dustoff" missions which are credited with saving thousands of lives during the Vietnam War. What they're saying "They were basically helicopter ambulances," Greg Waters, the museum's director of curatorial arts, told FOX 4 Dallas. "When things went bad, they would send out the call for dustoff and that's when General Brady would go out and rescue whoever needed rescuing." The helicopter is so large that it was lifted into the museum by a crane before the walls were finished. One of the more expansive exhibits in the museum is the "More Than a Medal" exhibit. Inside, visitors will find memorabilia and personal effects that let visitors put faces to the nation's most prestigious military award. "That's what this place is," museum President and CEO Chris Cassidy said. "It's a place for the stories of those Medal of Honor recipients." Inside the exhibit, visitors can get up close and personal with real medals that have been loaned to the museum for display. "The Medals of Honor themselves are the crown jewel of our collection," Waters said. Five pillars are integrated into the building's design, representing each branch of the armed forces. Then, once the sun goes down, a beam of light will shine into the sky. Officials call it a "perpetual" light, ensuring none of the stories, inside, are ever lost to darkness. Jack Jacobs, a retired U.S. Army colonel who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War, told The Associated Press that he wants museum visitors to realize the recipients aren't "spectacular supermen," but regular people who "embody the kinds of values that are really important." "Really grand things, not just in combat, but in everyday life ... are all accomplished by ordinary people who come to the conclusion that something has to be done and they are going to do it," Jacobs said. When his unit was ambushed by the Viet Cong on March 9, 1968, Jacobs took charge after his commander was seriously wounded. Despite being wounded in the head by shrapnel and bleeding heavily, Jacobs reorganized the company and repeatedly ran through enemy fire to rescue the wounded, saving the lives of a U.S. adviser and 13 soldiers. Jacobs, now 79, said he lost a lot of friends in the battle. "You really do wear the award for all of the people who can't wear the award," he said. Other notable recipients of the National Medal of Honor include actor Audie Murphy, one of the most decorated American combat soldiers in history. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of the Colmar Pocket in France. Alvin York was awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack on a German machine gun nest, killing 28 enemy soldiers, and capturing 132 others during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in 1918. Meanwhile, Desmond Doss, a conscientious combat medic who refused to carry a weapon, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the Battle of Okinawa, where he saved 75 men without ever firing a shot. John Basilone was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Battle of Guadalcanal, where he single-handedly held off an enemy attack. He was later killed in action during the Battle of Iwo Jima. In addition, Smedley Butler was awarded the Medal of Honor twice during his career, once for his actions in the Philippines and again for his efforts in Haiti. Brian Thacker received the Medal of Honor for his bravery in a firefight in Afghanistan, where he demonstrated extraordinary leadership in saving his team. William Carney was the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor, awarded for his actions during the Battle of Fort Wagner in 1863, where he bravely carried the American flag through enemy lines despite being severely wounded. Another exhibit lets visitors speak with Medal of Honor recipients and ask them questions. There are over 60 recipients who are still living. "We sit down recipients and we ask them hundreds of questions, over the course of several days with lots of cameras trained on them," Waters said. "We use AI to match the question with the most appropriate answer. We don't use AI to put words in their mouths. So all of the answers are the words the recipients actually said." The backstory More than 20 cities tried to attract the museum. In the end, it came down to Arlington and Denver as finalists. Arlington was chosen because it's centrally located, giving easier access for all Americans to visit. The Source This story was reported from Los Angeles. Information in this article comes from FOX 4 Dallas reporting and their tour of the museum and interviews with the museum officials. The Associated Press contributed.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Take a look inside the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington before it opens
The Brief The National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington spans 100,000-square-feet in the city's entertainment district. The museum houses the name of each Medal of Honor recipient. The museum opens to the public on Tuesday. ARLINGTON, Texas - While the National Medal of Honor Museum does not officially open to the public until Tuesday, FOX 4's Casey Stegall got a sneak preview of the exhibits. Nestled in the middle of Arlington's entertainment district sits the 100,000-square-foot architectural marvel that's expected to attract millions each year. Its mission? To inspire America and celebrate the human spirit. Through the front doors, visitors are greeted with the "Ring of Valor," which contains the names of all 3,528 Medal of Honor recipients. The military's highest distinction. As visitors move upstairs, the first exhibit they'll encounter is "Moments of Action." The exhibit is an immersive experience, transporting people to the battlefields where these awards are earned. After leaving the Ring of Valor, visitors will have a chance to see the "Rails to Rotors" exhibit that highlights the equipment and machinery that troops have used throughout history. Among its exhibits is one of the largest artifactsin the museum, a Vietnam-era Huey helicopter. They were used in "dustoff" missions which are credited for saving thousands of lives during the Vietnam War. What they're saying "They were basically helicopter ambulances," Greg Waters, the museum's director of curatorial arts, said. "When things went bad, they would send out the call for dustoff and that's when General Brady would go out and rescue whoever needed rescuing." The helicopter is so large that it was lifted into the museum by a crane before the walls were finished. One of the more expansive exhibits in the museum is the "More Than a Medal" exhibit. Inside, visitors will find memorabilia and personal effects that let visitors put faces to the nation's most prestigious military award. What they're saying "That's what this place is," museum President and CEO Chris Cassidy said. "It's a place for the stories of those Medal of Honor recipients." Inside the exhibit, visitors can get up close and personal with real medals that have been loaned to the museum for display. "The Medals of Honor themselves are the crown jewel of our collection," Waters said. The final exhibit lets visitors speak with Medal of Honor recipients and ask them questions. "We sit down recipients and we ask them hundreds of questions, over the course of several days with lots of cameras trained on them," Waters said. "We use AI to match the question with the most appropriate answer. We don't use AI to put words in their mouths. So all of the answers are the words the recipients actually said." Five pillars are integrated into the building's design, representing each branch of the armed forces. Then, once the sun goes down, a beam of light will shine into the sky. Officials call it a "perpetual" light ensuring none of the stories, inside, are ever lost to darkness. Local perspective More than 20 cities tried to attract the museum. In the end, it came down to Arlington and Denver as finalists. Arlington was chosen because it's centrally located, giving easier access for all Americans to visit. The Source Information in this article comes from a tour of the museum and interviews with the museum officials.
