Medal of Honor Memorial
Encyclopedia
The Medal of Honor Memorial is a monument located in Indianapolis
, Indiana
, USA. It is dedicated in honor of all recipients of the Medal of Honor
, the United States military's highest award for valor. The memorial was unveiled May 28, 1999, during Memorial Day
weekend.
, and consists of 27 glass panels set in concrete bases. Indiana Limestone
in shades of buff, gray, and pink are also a part of the monument. The panels are arranged into 15 walls, each representing an armed conflict in which a Medal of Honor
was awarded. The names of the recipients are etched into the glass. At the time of dedication, there were 3,436 Medal of Honor recipients etched into the monument.
The Memorial also contains an elaborate lighting system that illuminates certain panels to correspond with a 30-minute audio tour that is played over a speaker system. The audio tour is made up of stories about the wars, and accounts of living Medal recipients. Many of the stories were recorded by Medal of Honor recipients.
John Hodowal and his wife Caroline, were inspired to assist in the creation of a memorial to honor these individuals whose courageous acts earned them the Congressional Medal of Honor, the United State's highest military honor. The site that was chosen was the same area where Indianapolis's first recorded Independence Day
celebration was held. Additionally, the site was utilized as a military camp during the U.S. Civil War.
of the millennium.
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, USA. It is dedicated in honor of all recipients of the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
, the United States military's highest award for valor. The memorial was unveiled May 28, 1999, during Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
weekend.
Design
The Memorial is located on the north bank of the Central Canal, adjacent to Military Park (Indianapolis)Military Park (Indianapolis)
Military Park is the oldest park in Indianapolis, Indiana, covering . In accordance with the Indiana Constitution, the land that forms Military Park cannot be sold; only Monument Circle and half of the Indiana State Capitol share this distinction...
, and consists of 27 glass panels set in concrete bases. Indiana Limestone
Indiana Limestone
Indiana Limestone, also known as Bedford Limestone is a common regional term for Salem limestone, a geological formation primarily quarried in south central Indiana between Bloomington and Bedford....
in shades of buff, gray, and pink are also a part of the monument. The panels are arranged into 15 walls, each representing an armed conflict in which a Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
was awarded. The names of the recipients are etched into the glass. At the time of dedication, there were 3,436 Medal of Honor recipients etched into the monument.
The Memorial also contains an elaborate lighting system that illuminates certain panels to correspond with a 30-minute audio tour that is played over a speaker system. The audio tour is made up of stories about the wars, and accounts of living Medal recipients. Many of the stories were recorded by Medal of Honor recipients.
Origin
After reading an article in the New York Times written about a June 1998 meeting in upstate New York about an annual meeting of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Chairman of the Indianapolis based IPALCOIndianapolis Power & Light
Indianapolis Power & Light Company, also known as IPL or IPALCO, is a utility company providing electric service to the city of Indianapolis. It is a subsidiary and largest utility of AES Corporation, which acquired it in 2000....
John Hodowal and his wife Caroline, were inspired to assist in the creation of a memorial to honor these individuals whose courageous acts earned them the Congressional Medal of Honor, the United State's highest military honor. The site that was chosen was the same area where Indianapolis's first recorded Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
celebration was held. Additionally, the site was utilized as a military camp during the U.S. Civil War.
Construction and Dedication
Site preparation began in November 1998, and construction of the memorial began in January of 1999. 96 living Medal of Honor recipients attended the unveiling and dedication of the monument on May 28, 1999; the last Memorial DayMemorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
of the millennium.
Designers and Sponsor
The designers of the monument were architect landscape artists Eric Fulford and Ann Reed of ROAMworks . IPALCO Enterprises sponsored the monument.Award
The Memorial received a 2001 Merit Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects.See also
- United States Naval Academy Cemetery #Medal of Honor recipients
- Kentucky Medal of Honor Memorial
- Texas Medal of Honor MemorialTexas Medal of Honor MemorialThe Texas Medal of Honor Memorial is a statue commemorating recipients of the Medal of Honor from the state of Texas. Sculpted by Doyle Glass and Scott Boyer, it was dedicated on Memorial Day of 2008 and is located in Midland, Texas, at the Commemorative Air Force International Headquarters. The...