Tuesday is National Medal of Honor Day, a time to reflect on the extraordinary bravery and sacrifice of the fewer than 4,000 Americans who have received the nation's highest military honor.

Among them is Sgt. First Class Alwyn C. Cashe, the first Black medal recipient for actions since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Cashe, who grew up in Oviedo, Florida, repeatedly ran into a burning vehicle in Iraq in 2005 to save fellow soldiers, suffering fatal burns. He was posthumously awarded the medal in 2021 after years of advocacy by those who served with him.

Chris Cassidy, CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, talked about the rare award.

"The Medal of Honor has been around since 1861 and since that time, there's been 3,528 awards of the medal," Cassidy explained. "There's 61 of those folks living today."

Cashe is one of 51 medal recipients from Florida. This year, the day holds special significance, as the National Medal of Honor Museum opens its doors in Arlington, Texas, offering a permanent home to the stories of these heroes. Cassidy noted the museum features a broad swath of stories, from the Civil War to the present day, and from all branches of service.

The new museum features more than 100,000 square feet of space, about one-third dedicated to exhibition galleries. Cassidy added visitors can learn about the stories of Medal of Honor recipients, including those from their own states.

"The museum is focused on those people, human beings," Cassidy emphasized. "It's not a war museum or a military history museum, or a place where you see a ton of airplanes and tanks. There's other great places for that. This museum is storytelling about amazing Americans that did something when the country needed them to."

Congress established National Medal of Honor Day in 1990 to recognize the bravery and sacrifice of the medal recipients. For those unable to visit the museum in person, its website, mohmuseum.org offers resources to explore the stories of the heroes.




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Military bravery and sacrifice is recognized today, with the nation's recipients of the National Medal of Honor being celebrated for their service.

In addition to ceremonies across the country, a permanent place of remembrance opens in Arlington, Texas today, the new National Medal of Honor Museum.

Chris Cassidy, CEO of the museum, hopes it will serve as a reminder of what he calls the pillars of American excellence, courage, sacrifice and patriotism.

"It's telling the stories of American military heroes but it's also a way to be inspired for courage in your own life," Cassidy explained.

The museum includes the story of New Mexico's Hiroshi Miyamura, a Medal of Honor recipient who served in the Pacific Theater during World War II before returning to Gallup. The son of Japanese immigrants who moved to the community in 1923, Miyamura was the first living Japanese-American to receive the medal.

Cassidy pointed out the new museum features more than 100,000 square feet of space, about one-third dedicated to exhibition galleries. He noted medal recipients are selected for going above and beyond, putting the mission and interests of others ahead of their own.

"It's not a war museum or a military history museum or a place where you see a ton of airplanes and tanks," Cassidy stressed. "There's other great places for that. This museum is storytelling about amazing Americans that did something when the country needed them to."

Closer to home, New Mexico lawmakers honored the state's veterans this month by passing two bills to provide them with tax relief and free recreational opportunities. The legislation expands property tax exemptions and provides veterans with unlimited day-use and camping passes for specific recreational areas.


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Some 29 Arkansas Medal of Honor recipients will be recognized Tuesday as the National Medal of Honor Museum opens in Arlington, Texas.

The museum is dedicated to celebrating the stories of the more than 3,500 service members who have been awarded the nation's highest honor. The opening coincides with National Medal of Honor Day.

Chris Cassidy, CEO of the museum, said the facility is unlike any other military or war museum.

"We've paid a lot of attention to telling a broad swath of stories from the Civil War to present day of all branches of service, of all hometowns and states and ethnicity," Cassidy outlined. "Just kind of covering a broad section of America, because the Medal of Honor recipients really do represent America."

Arkansas was home to Medal of Honor recipient John Canley, who received the medal for his actions in Vietnam. Canley was the first living Black Marine to receive the Medal. He died in 2022.

Tuesday is the 162nd anniversary of the day the first Medal of Honor was awarded. Only 61 recipients are still living. Cassidy noted the museum will be a place where the public can interact with these heroes.

"In the ensuing weeks and months, we have several programs that we'll put on in the museum, where folks can come and listen to their stories live, and ask the Medal of Honor recipients questions in person," Cassidy added.

The $290 million structure has classrooms and spaces for meetings, memorials and ceremonies.


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Events for Black History Month are being held around the U.S.

In South Dakota, leaders of the state's main history museum, which is currently under renovation, hope the public chips in with artifacts to give future attractions more depth. The Cultural Heritage Center in Pierre is getting a face-lift and an expansion, with a full reopening planned for the first half of 2026.

Ben Jones, director of the South Dakota State Historical Society, said in planning exhibits, they have room to make certain displays shine a little more.

"As we've designed the museum, we've seen a number of spots where we have gaps in our museum collection," Jones explained.

He pointed out Black history is an example of the dilemma, citing Chet Jones, the first African American legislator in South Dakota. Jones acknowledged they are limited with what they have in telling Jones' rise to prominence through a display. The Historical Society welcomes any photos, documents or other important items, which could be donated.

Jones emphasized Ted Blakey, who helped champion civil rights in South Dakota, is another key figure they would like to highlight in a more prominent way. He argued Blakey's story and the backgrounds of others who helped shape Black History should not be left behind when reflecting how America came to be.

"It demonstrates how we have not, and how we have, lived up to our founding principles," Jones observed.

The museum might not be ready for visitors in time for next year's Black History Month but Jones anticipates it will reopen before America's celebration of its 250th birthday in July 2026. He suggested key exhibits, including one about unique communities called "Who Belongs," will provide more accuracy and authenticity when weaving in the experiences of minority populations.


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