Three Nonprofits Join Forces to Launch I Am America at the National Medal of Honor Museum

ARLINGTON, Texas — September 17, 2026 — Three nonprofit organizations—the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, iWRITE Literacy Organization and The Bryan Museum—have joined forces to launch I Am America, a new multigenerational exhibit and national student contest celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. 

The collaboration also brings together bestselling author Brad Meltzer and illustrator Christopher Eliopoulos, creators of the best-selling Ordinary People Change the World series, whose work connects the original I Am Texas project with the new exhibit and national contest.

Free and open to the public on the first floor of the National Medal of Honor Museum, the exhibit connects the enduring legacy of Medal of Honor Recipients with the continuing story of what it means to be American.

At its center is I Am Texas, the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title holder for the largest published book in the world. Displayed in North Texas for the first time, the book anchors an experience that carries its original statewide invitation forward through the national I Am America Writing and Art Contest.

Together, the exhibit and contest invite visitors to reflect on six Medal of Honor values that have helped define and shape the American story: Courage and Sacrifice, Commitment and Integrity, Citizenship and Patriotism. Through approachable stories, illustrations, questions, and moments of personal reflection, visitors are encouraged to recognize these values in others, embrace them within themselves, and bring them to life in everyday moments.

“Medal of Honor Recipients show us what is possible when ordinary people choose to act with extraordinary courage and character,” said Troy Bertram, CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation. “This exhibit is designed to help visitors of all ages recognize where the values already live—in the people around them, in their own choices and in the role each of us plays in carrying the American story forward.”

Highlighting Recipients and historical figures, I Am America bridges the stories preserved throughout the Museum with an invitation for visitors to add their own voices. The exhibit features illustrated figures from Meltzer and Eliopoulos’s bestselling Ordinary People Change the World series, helping bring each value to life.

A Texas Story Becomes a National Invitation

Created by iWRITE Literacy Organization and The Bryan Museum in collaboration with Meltzer and Eliopoulos, I Am Texas contains writing, poetry, and artwork from 1,000 students representing more than 80 Texas school districts.

When opened, the 496-pound book measures 7 feet 2 inches tall and 11 feet 1 inch wide when opened. It was officially recognized in 2022 as the largest published book in the world and later featured in the Guinness World Records 2024 edition.

At the National Medal of Honor Museum, the book is displayed open to a story about Medal of Honor Recipient Audie Murphy, creating a direct connection between the original student anthology and the Recipient legacy explored throughout the Museum.

“I Am America reminds us that literacy and creative expression give young people a powerful way to share their voices and make an impact,” said iWRITE founder and director of The Bryan Museum Melissa Williams Murphy. “Their stories and art can inspire others across the country to recognize courage, character, and service in the world around them, discover those same qualities within themselves and see how they lie at the heart of the American story.”

Students Nationwide Invited to Participate

The I Am America Writing and Art Contest invites students in grades 2–12 to submit original stories, essays, poetry, letters, or artwork inspired by at least one Medal of Honor value.

Created to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, the contest will select 250 students for publication in the commemorative I Am America anthology. An oversized edition will debut and go on display at the National Medal of Honor Museum in summer 2027, and each student selected for publication will receive a coffee-table edition of the book.

Students may also receive cash prizes and recognition through the American Storyteller Awards. An additional Texas Star Award will recognize selected work that connects the Medal of Honor values with a Texas story.

“Every story in Ordinary People Change the World begins with the same belief: heroes are not born extraordinary. They are ordinary people who choose to make a difference,” said Meltzer, a member of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation board. “I Am America gives young people across the country a chance to recognize that potential in others and in themselves—and to show us, through their own words and art, what courage, character and service look like today.”

The contest closes February 15, 2027—Presidents’ Day. Entry requirements, awards, teacher resources, and submission information are available at iamamericacontest.org.

The I Am America exhibit is free and open to the public on the first floor of the National Medal of Honor Museum, located at 1861 AT&T Way in Arlington, Texas. No Museum admission is required to visit the exhibit. For hours and visitor information, visit mohmuseum.org.

About the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation

The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation inspires individuals to recognize the extraordinary potential that resides in us all. Through the National Medal of Honor Museum, Monument and Griffin Institute, the NMOHMF preserves and shares the history of the highest military decoration awarded for valor in combat and the values exemplified by its recipients. The Museum – which was voted as the Best New Museum in America and one of the world’s most beautiful museums – provides an unrivaled, interactive visitor experience in America’s heartland in Arlington, Texas. The Griffin Institute brings the core values of the Medal of Honor to life in classrooms, boardrooms, and communities around the country. The Monument will soon rise in Washington, DC, providing a space to reflect on those whose selfless and courageous actions have served to safeguard freedom and democracy. For more information, please visit our website or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

About iWRITE Literacy Organization

iWRITE is a nonprofit literacy organization founded in 2009 to build student confidence through writing. Through creative-writing and illustration programs, mentorship and publishing opportunities, iWRITE helps young people develop their voices and experience the achievement of becoming published authors and artists. Learn more at iwrite.org.

About The Bryan Museum

The Bryan Museum brings the history of Texas and the American West to life through art, education and preservation. Its collections, exhibitions, and educational history and literacy programs give visitors opportunities to explore the stories of the past while inspiring them to shape the stories of the future. Learn more at thebryanmuseum.org.

About Ordinary People Change the World

Ordinary People Change the World is the bestselling picture-book biography series created by author Brad Meltzer and illustrator Christopher Eliopoulos. The series introduces children to real historical figures while emphasizing character, kindness, compassion, and the qualities that made each person a role model. Learn more at ordinarypeoplechangetheworld.com.

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