The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation announced Arlington has been selected as the site for the future National Medal of Honor Museum, which is expected to tell the stories of the nation’s top military honor recipients through a variety of experiences and exhibitions.

The museum, which currently has a planned public opening in 2024, plans to be located near Globe Life Park and AT&T Stadium in the city’s entertainment district. The announcement comes after a national site selection search that began a year ago.

“Arlington, Texas is the optimal location to build America’s next national treasure—the National Medal of Honor Museum,” Joe Daniels, president and CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, said in a statement. “All of us at the Museum were simply overwhelmed with the enthusiasm, warmth and level of commitment of those involved, who have worked beyond expectation to have the Museum come to Texas.

Daniels noted that 70 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor have lived in Texas, while nearly 1.8 million veterans and active duty military currently live in the state.

“Centuries of American history are filled with examples of selfless heroism and love of country shown by the men and women of this great state,” Daniels said.

Since it was first presented in 1863, the Medal of Honor, which is the nation’s highest military honor, has been awarded to more than 3,500 military service members.

The museum plans to offer museumgoers an experience that connects them personally and emotionally to Medal of Honor recipients through their stories, according to a statement. The narratives will highlight the heroism and values that the Medal of Honor represents.

“There is no better place to honor and preserve the legacy of our nation’s Medal of Honor recipients than in this patriotic city,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. “We are well known for our Texas pride—and we are extremely proud that Arlington, which brings visitors from across our great nation and the world, was chosen as the home of a museum that will surely become a national icon.”

An education center focused on building character development in the nation’s youth will also be part of the National Medal of Honor Museum. Part of the foundation’s mission is to use the stories of Medal of Honor recipients to inspire and motivate young people, according to a statement.

During the foundation’s selection process, it first evaluated factors including the city’s location, size, and number of visitors, along with community support, both overall and patriotic, for the nation’s history.

Then, the foundation held detailed discussions with community leaders and evaluated a timeline for a possible museum location, the potential support of private individuals and organizations, and programmatic possibilities, according to a statement.

“Building a permanent home for the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington ensures that the foundation will be able to share the stories of the more than 3,500 Medal of Honor recipients to the more than 51 million visitors that are warmly welcomed to the region a year,” retired U.S. Army Col. Jack Jacobs, a Medal of Honor recipient from the Vietnam War, said in a statement. “Putting our roots down and establishing a permanent home for the museum in Texas, a state that has unmatched ties to the military and military service, will allow us to create an experience that inspires a true strength of character.”

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