One of the most important and meaningful grand openings in Arlington’s history is happening on March 25, 2025. This historical moment begins in Arlington, but extends to Tarrant County, the State of Texas and to our great Nation! America’s next treasure, the National Medal of Honor Museum opens in Arlington, Texas–not Washington D.C. Most National Museums are in D.C. and were built over 100 years ago. The living Medal of Honor recipients did not want to wait the twenty years that it would take to build the museum in D.C. Surprisingly, they had already waited over 150 years for this museum to be built. The Medal of Honor (MOH) recipients also wanted this museum to be for, and accessible to, the people.
Several of the MOH recipients and private citizens formed the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation. The Foundation invited only twenty of the Nation’s leading cities to compete for the honor of being home to this great “National Museum.” In the spring of 2019, the Foundation was working to reduce the list to ten finalist cities, and there was not a Texas city in the finals. One of the living Medal of Honor recipients, and a Texan, Doc Ballard called Sid Eppes, former chairman of the veteran support organization AirPower Foundation and lifelong resident of Arlington, to inform him that the Museum would not be coming to Texas. Like any great Arlington citizen, Sid immediately started convincing them to look at Arlington. Doc said the site selection consultant was still in the DFW Metroplex, so Sid convinced them to stay over and meet with the Mayor of Arlington the next day.
It was well into the evening at this time and he did not have the mayor’s cell number, so he called another Arlington community leader, Steve Cavender, to contact the Mayor. Steve called Mayor Williams, who was so excited! He immediately called Trey Yelverton, the City Manager, and Michael Jacobson, the President of the Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce, and they worked through the night to prepare for the meeting the next morning. The site selection consultant arrived at City Hall and the meeting went extremely well. The Foundation made an unprecedented move–they placed Arlington in the ten finalist cities even though they were not among the original twenty. An amazing turn of events! There was still six months left in the competition and Arlington had a lot of work to do!
The Foundation’s Board requested a site visit and reception with community leaders from Arlington and regional leaders from North Texas. The Texas Rangers hosted the reception at the Ballpark in Arlington, currently called Choctaw Stadium. Arlington was showcased well. Three Medal of Honor recipients shared their inspiring stories, and then shared they had pledged to spend the rest of their lives championing their character values of courage, commitment, sacrifice, integrity, citizenship and patriotism.
They shared they were ordinary people who chose courage at a pivotal moment. The recipients want all Americans to choose to do the right thing at their pivotal moment and make that decision before they are faced with a crisis. They want the Museum to be a beacon to inspire Americans to adopt these character values in their journey of life.
There was not a dry eye among us! Arlington community leaders Kay Duggan said it best, “Arlington is the best place for this ‘National Museum’ and we should do everything we can to bring it to our community.”
The commitment level to bring the museum to Arlington was incredible. Mayor Williams knew this was a time to bring our community together, just as we have so many other times throughout Arlington’s rich history. He stated, “We had the rare opportunity to bring a National Museum to our community, with a mission that could change America, and we had the responsibility to make sure the Foundation chose Arlington. This city is definitely the right place for this museum.” Many contributed to this important mission including the City Council, Trey Yelverton and the city staff, Michael Jacobson and the Chamber staff and members, Ron Price and the Convention and Visitors Bureau, civic organizations such as Rotary, our veterans support organizations, and our educational partners to name a few.
The University of Texas at Arlington has long been recognized as being the leader in veterans support among universities and they stepped up. Dr. Marcelo Cavazos mobilized Arlington ISD, and Mansfield ISD and HEB ISD followed suit. Carolyn Montesano engaged the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation. She also came up with a wonderful plan to mobilize our school children in letter writing and artwork to the Foundation Board about why they wanted the Museum in Arlington. They followed up with students of all ages interacting with the Foundation Board when they came on their site visits to the community.
The Entertainment District neighbors were also great partners, beginning with the Texas Rangers and followed by Loews Hotels, Texas Live!, and Six Flags. Their neighbor across the freeway, Fortune 500 Company D. R. Horton also joined the team. They also realized they needed specific help in fundraising, so Mayor Williams recruited Charlotte Jones and the Jones family, the Dallas Cowboys and Roger Staubach, Hall of Fame Quarterback and Naval Academy graduate. The initiative spread to statewide support from our elected officials led by Governor Abbott. Another key supporter and major influencer was President George W. Bush. This is the Arlington way–gather the people, unite and work together to achieve success.
Peter Stent, the Board Chairman of the Museum Foundation at the time shared, “The museum is perfectly in line with Arlington and how it values those who serve–not just in the military but also first responders and those in everyday walks of life who choose to put their own good behind the interest of others.”
In November 2019 the Foundation Board voted unanimously to locate the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas. General Patrick Brady, MOH recipient and board member declared, “Arlington stood out above all others because of the spirit of the people.”
After November 2019, Arlington has repeatedly stepped up to confirm this City as the rightful home of this National Museum. Britt Slabinski, MOH recipient and the President of the Medal of Honor Society, recently stated emphatically, “There is no doubt that we made the right decision to select Arlington.”
The museum’s opening will be the culmination of dreams becoming reality in the form of this world-class museum. Designed by world-renowned architect, Rafael Vinoly, the waterfront, 100,000-square-foot museum located in the heart of Arlington’s Entertainment District, will encompass a gallery of exhibitions, meeting rooms and the illustrious Griffin Leadership Institute which will help educate school children and people of all ages, by telling the stories of the more than 3500 Medal of Honor recipients whose lives can hopefully inspire others to their own acts of selflessness.
Imagine the national and world leaders that will be coming to Arlington on a regular basis. The opportunity to learn from Medal of Honor recipients. The opportunities for generations of Arlington citizens to impact America. Arlington has once again proven to be the “Can Do City” as the home of The National Medal of Honor Museum.
