The great opening ceremony of the National Museum of the Medal of Honor went far beyond a simple ribbon cup. On March 22, spectators gathered in Arlington, Texas, for performances of military brass groups and choirs. Fireworks have transformed the night sky into a sparkling galaxy. A drone platoon has created airborne images such as flying eagles and a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. The members of the service raised a version of the stars and scratches large enough to cover a tennis court. And for the ribbon cup itself, former president George W. Bush was on site to use giant scissors.
VIP participants were 31 of the 61 living recipients of the medal of honor, the highest military distinction in the country. Some were in tears.
“The whole project is for them,” explains Chris Cassidy, president and chief executive officer of the museum foundation. The doors opened to the public on March 25, National Day of the Medal of Honor. For visitors, “our hope with the Museum of the Medal of Honor is to use the examples of this military courage so that it can be transferred in a small means in someone’s normal daily life.”
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What makes someone brave? The instructor spoke with Chris Cassidy, one of the leaders of the National Museum of the Medal of Honor, on the recipients of the American Prize – and how the courage available is for everyone.
The instructor asked Mr. Cassidy, a former astronaut and retired from Navy Seal, who received a bronze star, on the museum mission. The interview was published for more clarity and length.
Can you explain the meaning of the medal of honor?
The medal of honor is the highest price of our nation for the value on the battlefield. There have been since 1861. There have been 3,528 prices of this medal. But during the civil war, it was the only medal. Thus, the predominant number of these 3,500 comes from the civil war. Now today there are various strata of rewards that you can get to various degrees. So it has become really, really rare. The criterion is that it must be in a combat situation. He must be on the battlefield. You have to observe by at least two people.
It is neither a war memorial nor a military museum, but it is rather based on values and biography. Can you tell us more about the values that inform the museum?
Courage, commitment, sacrifice, integrity and citizenship and patriotism. We have youth programs and adult programs that weave these values throughout the stories of medal of honor. Thus, using the stories, the examples of these gentlemen and a lady – Mary Walker, civil war surgeon – using these stories and exploring these values is, I think, our secret sauce.
What is the state of the values of courage, sacrifice and patriotism in today’s America compared to previous decades and previous generations?
If you asked someone in the 1960s in the 1960s, he would have a different answer. If you ask someone and my age in the 80s, they would have a different response. But the more I think about it, the more I think people are only people. The technology that we have today with social media could influence things a little differently that, let’s say, the radio did in 1945 or other. But at the end of the day, human beings want to innovate to do good for the world and be good human beings with each other.
There are always exceptions to this, and these exceptions are often those which are highlighted. There are also … people who are simply incredible and who do positive things. Feed people who cannot eat and get water to people who cannot get clean water and put luggage in the tank for an elderly person who cannot do it on the plane. So I don’t think the values are different. I think it is simply important for all of us, from time to time, check these values and make sure that we say that our personal compass is composed in the North.
The museum underlines that it honors ordinary Americans who have taken extraordinary measures in the service of others. Can you describe the qualities and values that these recipients had learned or have been raised with whom have prepared them for this moment?
As this work, I got to know several of them quite well. And it’s common [for them] To say: “I was no different from anyone. I didn’t like English lessons where I liked English lessons, where I played football, or I tried to play football and I was cut off from the team, no matter. ” They just have the same stories that we all do.
In fact, the general. [Patrick Henry] Brady – I have to give him this quote – he is a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He says that we all have the same big bucket with courage, and it is always full, and you can reach this bucket at any time and remove things and it fills. It is a choice you have, everyone, to reach the bucket and use courage. So it is available for all of us. Fear is an emotion, courage is a decision.
With the kind permission of the National Museum of the Medal of Honor
Can you describe one or two of the most striking stories of extraordinary courage that are represented in the museum?
The one who really attracts me is this guy named Tibor Rubin. He was a young child, prisoner of war in a Nazi concentration camp, inspired by the GIS who released his camp. Then he matures and said, “I want to be a GI.” He joined the American army, found himself in Korea. [He’s] Captured by the Chinese and he finds himself in a Chinese concentration camp. His resilience, his bravery and his knowledge of this existence [in a Nazi camp] As a child, a child inspired people around him. He kept positive energy. … SO [he] lived a full life in the United States. For me, it’s like Holy Moly. It was not only once, but twice a prisoner of war in incredible circumstances.
You mentioned earlier that there was only one woman, Mary Edwards Walker, who received the medal. She was civil during the civil war. Why was there no other recipient women?
Women in the army have long been essential. By the way, there is a memorial for really cool military women in DC. It is a little beyond the river in Arlington, Virginia, near the cemetery. It highlights the contribution of women to the military in our country. Women were simply not in combat roles for many years, and now they are. So it’s just a matter of time before having a second and a third and a fourth [award recipient]. In fact, I heard of Harriet Tubman … There is an important movement to make him the medal of honor.
What the people you honor in this museum have in common is their desire to put the others before you. You could say that these are really at the heart of extraordinary acts of love, right?
Love is the big word. There is a recipient of the medal of honor, Clint Romesha. His action was in Afghanistan. He has a quote that I like. He enters the whole battle and talks about what was going on. They are in numerical, outdated, dark and disastrous, a tactical disadvantage. They are low, and the enemy is at the top. And in the end, he says, “You know, we survived that day not because we hate the enemy, but because we love each other.” I think it’s so beautifully said.
