ARLINGTON, TX – The National Medal of Honor Museum invites the community to its National Medal of Honor Day observance on March 25, 2026. The celebration – which will feature a flag raising ceremony, veterans luncheon and free admission – commemorates both the anniversary of the first Medals of Honor awarded in 1863 and one year since the Museum’s Grand Opening in Arlington, Texas. 

National Medal of Honor Day serves as a national observance in remembrance of those who have earned the nation’s highest military award for valor. It has also grown into a local tradition in the North Texas community, anchored at the National Medal of Honor Museum. This year, the Museum will commemorate the day with community events and free admission to give visitors the opportunity to learn about the Medal and the stories of American heroes who have earned it. 

“National Medal of Honor Day is a poignant reminder of the values that define our nation—the values of courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, and commitment. As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary and the Museum marks its first year, those ideals feel especially meaningful,” said Cory Crowley, NMOHM Executive Vice President. “We are encouraging our neighbors to come together, reflect on these values, and be inspired by ordinary people who performed extraordinary acts in service to their country and their fellow Americans.” 

The Museum’s National Medal of Honor Day festivities, presented in partnership with the Texas Lottery and the Dallas Cowboys, offer a meaningful moment ahead of America’s 250th anniversary to reflect on the values that unite us. Capping a year where the Museum received more than 75,000 visitors, reached nearly 300,000 students through the Griffin Institute, and was named the Best New Museum in America by USA Today, the events signal the tremendous progress the Museum has made in its mission to inspire America. 

Whether visitors come for the ceremony, the conversations, or the stories inside the Museum’s exhibition hall, the National Medal of Honor Museum invites Americans of all ages to gather in recognition of service and leave inspired by what is possible when ordinary people dedicate themselves to a greater cause. 

The National Medal of Honor Day observance at the Museum will include: 

• Honoring the Colors | 10:30AM to 11:05AM 
• National Medal of Honor Day Luncheon | 11:00AM to 1:00PM 
• Free Museum Admission | 10:00AM to 5:00PM 

Honoring the Colors 

Honoring the Colors opens the Museum’s observance of National Medal of Honor Day. The spirited flag-raising ceremony brings students, veterans, families, and community members together and sets the tone for a day of conversation, connection, and reflection on the values embodied by the Medal of Honor. 

WHAT: 

• Flag Raising Ceremony 

WHEN: 

• Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 10:30AM CT 

WHERE: 

• Museum Terrace, National Medal of Honor Museum 
• 1861 AT&T Way, Arlington, Texas 76011 

National Medal of Honor Day Luncheon 

The National Medal of Honor Museum is honoring the courage and service of our veteran community. Veterans are invited to join Marine Corps JROTC Cadets from McKinney High School for a complimentary luncheon in Brady Hall. 

During the luncheon, six veterans will be awarded with Wounded Warrior scholarships. Each scholarship reflects the values represented by the Medal of Honor—courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, integrity, and commitment—and scholarship recipients will be celebrated for embodying these core attributes. 

Admission is free for veterans on a first-come, first-served basis through the registration form. 

WHAT: 

• Veterans Luncheon 

WHEN: 

• Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 11:00AM to 1:00PM CT 

WHERE: 

• Brady Hall, National Medal of Honor Museum 
• 1861 AT&T Way, Arlington, Texas 76011 

Free Museum Admission 

The National Medal of Honor Museum will be open from 10:00AM to 5:00PM with free admission throughout the day. Guests will also be able to experience the brand-new Rickenbacker Gallery, featuring the car driven by Medal of Honor Recipient Eddie Rickenbacker in the 1914 Indianapolis 500, and Jacob Parrott’s Medal of Honor, the very first ever awarded, which is on view until March 31. The Museum café and retail spaces will also be open. 

WHAT: 

• Free Admission to National Medal of Honor Museum 

WHEN: 

• Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at 10:00AM – 5:00PM CT 

WHERE: 

• National Medal of Honor Museum 
• 1861 AT&T Way, Arlington, Texas 76011 

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About the National Medal of Honor Museum, Monument and Griffin Institute   

The National Medal of Honor Museum, Monument and Griffin Institute is inspiring individuals by honoring and preserving the history of the highest military decoration awarded for valor in combat.   

The Museum, which opened on March 25, 2025, and was voted as the Best New Museum in America, serves as a national landmark located in America’s heartland in Arlington, Texas, and provides an unrivaled, interactive visitor experience that commemorates the historical thread of sacrifice, patriotism, and courage that connects members of the United States military service past and present. It is the Museum’s mission to tell the stories of Medal of Honor recipients in a dynamic and interactive setting that will inspire visitors to recognize the potential for the extraordinary that resides in us all.    

Through dynamic and far-reaching curriculum and programming, the National Medal of Honor Griffin Institute is bringing to life the core values inherent to the Medal of Honor in classrooms, boardrooms, and communities around the country.   

In 2021, The National Medal of Honor Monument Act was signed into law, paving the way for the monument’s placement in Washington, D.C. Soon, Americans and visitors of every nation will have the opportunity to reflect on the values represented by those whose selfless and courageous actions have served to safeguard freedom and democracy the world over.   

For more information please visit the National Medal of Honor Museum website or follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.  

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