Arlington is one of two finalists for The National Medal of Honor Museum.
The foundation on June 27 announced that – following a national search – Denver and Arlington have been selected by the Foundation’s Board of Directors as finalists for the future home of the National Medal of Honor Museum. The search, which launched in October 2018, will conclude in September. The Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest and most prestigious military honor, has been awarded to more than 3,500 military service members since the first medal was presented in 1863. The National Medal of Honor Museum will offer an experience that draws personal and emotional connections to Medal of Honor recipients and their inspiring stories, while shedding light on the wars in which they fought and the ideals that the Medal of Honor represents, according to the private nonprofit organization.
Joe Daniels, President and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, said, “Arlington and Denver are two exceptional cities, and we have been overwhelmed by the response we have received from their state and local officials about this important undertaking. Public and private leaders from both cities have expressed a strong desire to help the museum in its mission to further unite us all around what it means to be patriotic, to inspire us to find the
hero within ourselves, and to preserve the stories of our nation’s Medal of Honor recipients for future generations. We are deeply grateful.”
The museum also announced that it will work with Congress to create the first-ever monument in Washington, D.C., dedicated to honoring the more than 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients.
“The National Medal of Honor Museum is the caretaker of a legacy defined by sacrifice,” said Medal of Honor recipient Master Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Britt Slabinski. “The service and patriotism of my fellow Medal of Honor recipients and those we served with should be told on a national stage. The National Medal of Honor museum will protect and project that legacy by building a museum in America’s heartland, Denver or Arlington, and a Medal of Honor monument on the national mall in our nation’s capital. This will create additional opportunities for millions of visitors to experience and learn those stories”.
The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation is evaluating a range of factors in its search. They include location, market size, tourism activity and number of visitors, community support – both overall and patriotic – for our nation’s history, and public transportation options. During the final phase of the selection process, between now and September, the Foundation will engage in detailed discussions with members of the Arlington and Denver communities, according to the organization. During this time, the Foundation will be further evaluating timeline for conveyance of a potential museum
location, the potential support of private individuals and organizations, and programmatic possibilities within each city.
The organization is based in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina.
https://mohmuseum.org/