The National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, is seen before dawn and still under construction on March 7, 2025. (EJ Hersom/U.S. Department of Defense)
This year’s National Medal of Honor Day, which is on Tuesday, will be marked by the formal opening of a museum dedicated to the medal in Arlington, Texas.
A few days before its formal opening, the National Medal of Honor Museum will hold an opening celebration on Saturday that is free and available to the public. The Saturday event, which begins at 7 p.m. local time, will consist of the live music, speeches from Medal of Honor recipients, food vendors and conclude with a fireworks display.
Some of the museum exhibits include “From Rails to Rotors,” which focuses on Vietnam-era rescues with the Huey helicopter and features a virtual reality experience that simulates such a rescue; “More Than a Medal,” which shows the life stories of medal recipients; and interactive exhibits that let visitors ask recipients questions virtually.
Museum tickets go for $30 apiece, though they can be upgraded to include the VR experience or the VIP Guided Tour.
The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation operates the museums and is funded through private donations. It has several prominent corporate partners or sponsors, including Boeing, American Airlines, AT&T, Walmart and Comcast, among others.
Other than operating the museum in Texas, the foundation is tasked with creating a monument on the National Mall in Washington. The House of Representatives voted 414-0 in January to authorize the monument. The legislation now awaits approval in the Senate.
An annual ceremony to commemorate the day will also be held at the separate Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point in South Carolina.
While the medal was first presented in 1863, a national day for the honor and its recipients was not declared until 1990.
About 3,500 of the medals have been awarded, of which over 600 were awarded posthumously, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Over 1,500 of the medals, nearly 43%, were given for service in the Civil War. There are only 61 living recipients today.
A Huey helicopter flown by Medal of Honor recipient, retired U.S. Army Major General Patrick Brady, is on display at the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, on March 6, 2025. (EJ Hersom/U.S. Department of Defense)
