A museum that's been long in the works has arrived and with major fanfare: The National Medal of Honor Museum, a new facility dedicated to telling the stories of those who've received a Medal of Honor for their wartime efforts, is now open in Arlington at 1861 AT&T Way, in the same neighborhood as Globe Life Field and AT&T Stadium, where it will provide an interactive visitor experience that commemorates the patriotism and courage of U.S. military service past and present.
In a statement, U.S. Army Major General Patrick H. Brady (Ret.), Medal of Honor Recipient and member of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation Board of Directors said that "this Medal – and this Museum – are for those I served with, especially the ones who never came home. I hope that visitors will learn from our stories and see that they too have it within themselves to do something great for others and make a positive impact on our country."
Of the 40 million Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, fewer than 4,000 have earned the Medal of Honor. Of those, only 61 are living today.
The National Medal of Honor Museum is unique in that it is neither a war memorial nor a military museum, but instead is values- and biography-based, taking visitors on a narrative journey through the lives of ordinary people who did something extraordinary in service to others. It is hoped that visitors will learn that courage is not contained to the battlefield and having a sense of duty is not demarcated by a uniform.
The museum features an elevated exhibit deck, held aloft by five concrete mega-columns representing branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, with 31,000 square feet of artifacts, interviews, lives, and legacies of those who have received medals. Highlights of the exbibits include a fully restored Bell UH-1 "Huey" Iroquois helicopter modeled after the one flown by Medal of Honor Recipient U.S. Army Major General Patrick H. Brady (Ret.); and "Conversations: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives" where guests can use innovative technology to interview a virtual Medal of Honor Recipient.
In total, the Museum has more than 100,000 square feet of space, including areas for classrooms, meetings, memorials and ceremonies. It is home to the National Medal of Honor Griffin Institute, a leadership institute named after business leader and philanthropist Kenneth C. Griffin dedicated to inspiring, equipping, and connecting people to live the values of the Medal of Honor.
There's also a cafe and a gift shop.
The Museum also has a notable team including Foundation Board Chairman Charlotte Jones, Chief Brand Officer and co-owner of the Dallas Cowboys; Museum CEO Chris Cassidy, a former NASA astronaut and retired Navy SEAL; as well as five recipients of the Medal of Honor who also serve on the Foundation's Board. It has the support of three former presidents – Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama – all of whom are Honorary Directors.
The museum celebrated with a grand opening event on March 22 that included performances by the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment "The Old Guard," the U.S. Army Strings, The U.S. Air Force Ceremonial Band, The President's Own U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra, the U.S. Navy Band Commodores, and the U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club. Also in attendance were 32 Medal of Honor Recipients, NBC TODAY Show anchor Savannah Guthrie, musician Lee Greenwood, actor Gary Sinise, Toby Keith's widow Tricia Lucas, Dallas Cowboys' stars Dak Prescott and Jake Ferguson, Cowboys legend Zack Martin, corporate partners from American Airlines, Anheuser Busch, AT&T, Bank of America, Carnival Cruise Line, Dallas Cowboys, Lockheed Martin, Lucas Oil, JPMorgan, Texas Rangers, and others, plus dozens of current and former national, state, and local elected officials.
Tickets to visit the National Medal of Honor Museum start at $30 for the basic experience, up to $60 which comes with a VIP guided tour, and can be purchased on the Museum's website at mohmuseum.org.
