National Medal of Honor Museum

Last updated
National Medal of Honor Museum
National Medal of Honor Museum Logo.png
National Medal of Honor Museum
Established2024 (2024) (planned)
Location Arlington, Texas
Coordinates 32°45′11″N97°04′54″W / 32.75306°N 97.08167°W / 32.75306; -97.08167
Type Military history
Collections Medal of Honor
Website mohmuseum.org

The National Medal of Honor Museum is a museum that honors United States Armed Forces Medal of Honor recipients, founded and funded by the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation. [1] The museum is scheduled to open in March 2025 in Arlington, Texas, with groundbreaking beginning in March 2022. [2] Previously, the group decided to build the museum in Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant [3] but decided on Arlington later. [4]

Contents

The location was announced on October 4, 2019, concluding a 5-year, nationwide competition that included Denver, New York City, San Diego, and Washington, D.C. It is projected to cost $150 million and open in 2024. [5]

History

Planning

Initially, the museum was planned for a location in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. [6] A design for the museum by Moshe Safdie faced much regulatory scrutiny and criticism by the Mount Pleasant Town Council planning committee. [7] [8] In late 2018, the Foundation decided to seek alternate sites for the museum. [6]

In October of 2019, Arlington, Texas, was selected as the location for the National Medal of Honor Museum. [9] The museum is meant to recognize Medal of Honor recipients [10] and include the National Medal of Honor Museum Leadership Institute, an education center aimed at character development for young people. [11] [2]

In January 2020, Rafael Viñoly was selected as chief architect for the museum. [12] The first renderings for the museum were revealed that October. [13]

The Foundation has also worked to place a corresponding National Medal of Honor Monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. [14] A bill authorizing the Foundation to construct the monument passed unanimously in the House and Senate; [15] in late 2021, President Joe Biden signed it into law. [14]

Fundraising

The Foundation has a fundraising goal of nearly $200 million to build the museum in Arlington. [16] The project is funded by private donations. [17] No federal funds will be used to support the construction of the museum [18] or the monument. [19] In March 2021, American businessman and Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made a $20 million donation to help build the museum. [20]

Construction

The site for the museum is in Arlington's entertainment district, near the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium and Texas Rangers' Globe Life Field. [10] On February 1, 2022, the Foundation announced it would break ground on the museum on National Medal of Honor Day 2022 – March 25, 2022. [2]

Foundation

The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization charged with designing, funding, building and maintaining the museum. [21] Chris Cassidy, former chief astronaut for NASA and a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, is the museum's president and CEO. [22] Charlotte Jones, executive vice president and chief brand officer for the Dallas Cowboys, is chairman of the board for the museum. [23]

Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter are "Honorary Directors" of the Foundation. In November 2021, Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton appeared in a public service announcement in support of building the museum. [21]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Bush</span> First Lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009

Laura Welch Bush is the wife of George W. Bush and served as the first lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009. Bush previously served as the first lady of Texas from 1995 to 2000. She is also the daughter-in-law of former president George H. W. Bush.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award of the United States, alongside the Congressional Gold Medal. It is an award bestowed by decision of the president of the United States to recognize people who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." The award is not limited to U.S. citizens, and, while it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military personnel and worn on the uniform. It was established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, superseding the Medal of Freedom that was initially established by President Harry S. Truman in 1945 to honor civilian service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arlington, Texas</span> City in Texas, United States

Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas, United States. It is part of the Mid-Cities region of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan statistical area, and is a principal city of the metropolis and region. The city had a population of 394,266 in 2020, making it the second-largest city in the county after Fort Worth and the third-largest city in the metropolitan area, after Dallas and Fort Worth. Arlington is the 50th-most populous city in the United States, the seventh-most populous city in the state of Texas, and the largest city in the state that is not a county seat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerry Jones</span> American businessman and Dallas Cowboys owner

Jerral Wayne Jones Sr. is an American businessman and the owner, president, and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He bought the team from Bum Bright in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arlington Stadium</span> Former stadium in Arlington, Texas, US

Arlington Stadium was a baseball stadium located in Arlington, Texas, United States, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. It served as the home for the Texas Rangers (MLB) from 1972 until 1993, after which the team moved into The Ballpark in Arlington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidential library system</span> Research library with the collection of a U.S. presidents papers

In the United States, the presidential library system is a nationwide network of 16 libraries administered by the Office of Presidential Libraries, which is part of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). These are repositories for preserving and making available the papers, records, collections and other historical materials of every president of the United States since Herbert Hoover, the 31st president from 1929–1933. In addition to the library services, museum exhibitions concerning the presidency are displayed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congressional Space Medal of Honor</span> American award given to astronauts

The Congressional Space Medal of Honor was authorized by the United States Congress in 1969 to recognize "any astronaut who in the performance of his or her duties has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious efforts and contributions to the welfare of the Nation and mankind". It's awarded by the President of the United States in Congress's name on recommendations from the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The award is a separate decoration from the Medal of Honor, which is a military award for extreme bravery and gallantry in combat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Air Force Memorial</span> Memorial in Arlington, Virginia

The United States Air Force Memorial honors the service of the personnel of the United States Air Force and its heritage organizations. The Memorial is located in Arlington County, Virginia, on the former grounds of the Navy Annex near The Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery. The Memorial is southwest of the intersection of Columbia Pike and South Joyce Street and is accessible from the north side of Columbia Pike. It was the last project of American architect James Ingo Freed with the firm Pei Cobb Freed & Partners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AT&T Stadium</span> Stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States

AT&T Stadium is a retractable-roof stadium in Arlington, Texas, United States. It serves as the home of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL), and was completed on May 27, 2009. It is also the home of the Cotton Bowl Classic, the Big 12 Championship Game, and the Southwest Classic. The stadium is one of 11 US venues set to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The facility, owned by the city of Arlington, has also been used for a variety of other activities, such as concerts, basketball games, soccer, college and high-school football contests, rodeos, motocross, Spartan Races, and professional wrestling. It replaced the partially covered Texas Stadium, which served as the Cowboys' home from 1971 through the 2008 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George W. Bush Presidential Center</span> Presidential library and museum for U.S. President George W. Bush, located near Dallas, Texas

The George W. Bush Presidential Center, which opened on April 25, 2013, is a complex that includes former United States President George W. Bush's presidential library and museum, the George W. Bush Policy Institute, and the offices of the George W. Bush Foundation. It is located on the campus of Southern Methodist University (SMU) in University Park, Texas, near Dallas. It will be the future resting place of George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States (2001–2009), and his wife Laura Bush.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art</span>

The Monuments Men and Women Foundation, formerly known as the Monuments Men Foundation for the Preservation of Art, is an American IRS-approved 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, which honors the legacy of those who served in the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program during and after World War II, more commonly known as the Monuments Men and Women. Today, the foundation continues their mission by recovering Nazi looted artworks, documents, and other cultural objects and returning them to their rightful owners. Raising public awareness is essential to the foundation's mission of "Restitution, Education and Preservation".

Jeannie Deakyne is an Arlington, Texas, champion for education and access, community builder, and combat veteran. As of 2020 she serves as the vice president of operations for the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation in Arlington, Texas. She is an active member in the National and Texas Societies of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Alumni of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, and Arlington Council of PTAs leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First inauguration of Bill Clinton</span> 52nd United States presidential inauguration

The first inauguration of Bill Clinton as the 42nd president of the United States was held on Wednesday, January 20, 1993, at the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. This was the 52nd inauguration and marked the commencement of the first term of Bill Clinton as president and Al Gore as vice president. At 46 years, 154 days of age at the time of his first inauguration, Clinton was the third-youngest person to become president, and the first from the Baby Boomer generation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">State funerals in the United States</span> Funeral rites reserved for U.S. state officials or important citizens

In the United States, state funerals are the official funerary rites conducted by the federal government in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., that are offered to a sitting or former president, a president-elect, high government officials and other civilians who have rendered distinguished service to the nation. Administered by the Military District of Washington (MDW), a command unit of the Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region, state funerals are greatly influenced by protocol, steeped in tradition, and rich in history. However, the overall planning as well as the decision to hold a state funeral, is largely determined by a president and their family.

The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation (VOC) is a non-profit anti-communist organization in the United States, authorized by a unanimous Act of Congress in 1993 for the purpose of "educating Americans about the ideology, history and legacy of communism."

On January 20, 1993, following the first inauguration of his successor Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara Bush built a retirement house in the community of West Oaks, Houston. He established a presidential office within the Park Laureate Building on Memorial Drive in Houston. He also frequently spent time at his vacation home in Kennebunkport, took annual cruises in Greece, went on fishing trips in Florida, and visited the Bohemian Club in Northern California. He declined to serve on corporate boards, but delivered numerous paid speeches and served as an adviser to The Carlyle Group, a private equity firm. He never published his memoirs, but he and Brent Scowcroft co-wrote A World Transformed, a 1998 work on foreign policy. Portions of his letters and his diary were later published as The China Diary of George H. W. Bush and All the Best, George Bush.

The Women's Suffrage National Monument is a planned memorial sculpture that will honor suffragists who organized and demonstrated for the women's right to vote in the United States.

References

  1. ↑ "National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation launches campaign to build Texas museum, DC monument". FOX 10 Phoenix. 11 November 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Bahari, Sarah (1 February 2022). "After years of planning, National Medal of Honor Museum will break ground next month in Arlington". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  3. ↑ Williams, Emily (2019-08-13). "Mount Pleasant will give $3M to new Medal of Honor museum project". The Post and Courier. Retrieved 2020-09-08.
  4. ↑ "Two towns vie for 'national' Medal of Honor museum". Stars and Stripes. Archived from the original on 2020-07-07. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  5. ↑ "Medal of Honor Museum to be located in Texas". Military Times. 3 October 2019.
  6. 1 2 Williams, Emily (18 January 2020). "One museum may have left SC, but Medal of Honor Society headquarters 'here to stay'". Post and Courier. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  7. ↑ Munday, Dave (2018-04-02). "Medal of Honor Museum design fails to impress Mount Pleasant council committee". The Post and Courier . Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  8. ↑ Grant, Daniel (2018-10-02). "More Museums Are Popping Up, Annoying Their Neighbors". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  9. ↑ "Arlington Chosen as Site for National Medal of Honor Museum". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  10. 1 2 Tarrant, David (2 October 2019). "New National Medal of Honor Museum headed to Arlington, near Cowboys and Rangers stadiums". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  11. ↑ Swanger, Ben (5 November 2021). "Chris Cassidy, Charlotte Jones Give Sneak Peek of National Medal of Honor Museum". D Magazine. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  12. ↑ "National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation names architect for $150M project, adds industry leaders to its board". Fort Worth Business Press. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  13. ↑ Hickman, Matt (12 October 2020). "Rafael Viñoly Architects unveils renderings of National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas". The Architect's Newspaper. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  14. 1 2 Caldwell, Emily (29 December 2021). "Biden signs bill to authorize construction of Medal of Honor monument in Washington, D.C." The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  15. ↑ Schill, Charlie (21 December 2021). "Blake Moore's Medal of Honor bill awaiting presidential signature". Cache Valley Daily. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  16. ↑ Roberts, Kim (5 July 2021). "National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington Hopes to Break Ground Early 2022". The Texan. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  17. ↑ Watson, Kathryn (12 November 2021). "Obama, Bush and Clinton ask for support to build museum for Medal of Honor recipients". CBS News. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  18. ↑ Broussard, Kailey (7 October 2020). "Here's the first look at the National Medal of Honor Museum planned in Arlington". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  19. ↑ Mitchell, Isaiah (23 December 2021). "Congress Approves Texan-Led Effort to Establish National Monument to Medal of Honor Recipients". The Texan. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  20. ↑ Epstein, Jori (25 March 2021). "Cowboys owner Jerry Jones giving $20 million to help fund new National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas". USA Today. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  21. 1 2 Stracqualursi, Veronica (11 November 2021). "Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton in new PSA urge Americans to support National Medal of Honor Museum". CNN. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  22. ↑ Bahari, Sarah (30 August 2021). "National Medal of Honor Museum names U.S. Navy veteran and former NASA astronaut as CEO". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  23. ↑ "National Medal of Honor Museum receives $20 million from Jerry Jones". Philanthropy News Digest. 3 April 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2022.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.