County Commissioner Dianne Edmondson
We here in Robson Ranch are very patriotic. Our voting records show that we are among the top voting (percentage of registered voters) in the state, and we honor our resident veterans with a choir concert in November. We also honor those who have passed on with a moving tribute on Memorial Day at Veterans Park here in the Ranch.
Due to our large number of veterans, I thought it would be appropriate to write about the new Medal of Honor Museum, which has just opened in Arlington.
According to The Dallas Morning News, several cities competed to become the location of the 100,000-square-foot museum, and Arlington’s site at 1861 AT&T Way was selected. The museum is in the city’s entertainment district, near Globe Life Field, AT&T Stadium. More than three years of planning and preparation have gone into the museum, which includes exhibition galleries and event space, and whose roof is supported by five large pillars, each representing one of the military branches: Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. To include the new Space Force, it is represented by a light coming out of the roof. The various galleries exhibit many of the Medals of Honor and an education center.
The most impressive part may be the Ring of Honor, which pays tribute to the more than 3,500 recipients of the Medal of Honor, America’s highest award for valor in combat. The circular exhibit at the entrance contains the etched names and has room for more as needed in the future. Covering the Ring of Honor is the museum’s rotunda, which will be open 24 hours daily to allow visitors to walk inside and view the names. After hours, the museum becomes a memorial, lighted and similar to those in D.C., which honor various American heroes.
Another heroes museum, which may interest some, is the Audie Murphy/Cotton Museum in Hunt County, 600 Highway I-30 in Greenville, Texas. This charming museum is about 30 minutes east (maybe longer now that Highway 380 is under construction) and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Their mission is to emphasize the importance of American-grown cotton and to honor Medal of Honor recipient Army Major Audie Murphy who was a Texan by birth.
Many of us here at the Ranch have also been a part of the annual Medal of Honor weekend in Gainesville, just north on I-35. This year’s event was from April 8 through April 12. The miles-long parade begins at DFW Airport and winds its way north, including part of I-35 W. It’s always a heartwarming sight to glance up at bridges we pass under and see the fire truck ladders up and touching to fly the American flag. People waving flags line the parade route, and we all feel so proud to be Americans.
If by chance you couldn’t make it to this year’s parade, please plan to do so next year. The Gainesville website will have details.
Though I am not aware of any Medal of Honor recipient living here in Robson Ranch, there are among our neighbors literally hundreds of veterans who served our country so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we do. Our country truly is the land of the free because of the brave.