Through the month of December, the Mount Pleasant Historical Commission is highlighting historical attractions and museums within the town. The USS Yorktown currently houses the Medal of Honor Museum. However, efforts are underway to construct the National Medal of Honor Museum on a site within Patriots Point (architect's rendering above). The National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, a 501(c)(3) educational institution, has been established to design, fund, build and maintain the National Medal of Honor Museum and Education Center, with funding largely through private sector donations. Links to both the current museum and the Foundation's plans are below.

The Medal of Honor is America's highest and most prestigious military award, given to service members for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. Since its inception during the Civil War, there have been roughly 3,500 recipients. Mindful of President Lincoln's sentiment that "Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure," Patriots Point seeks to preserve and present the lives and deeds of these heroes.

For more information: Patriots Point Medal of Honor Museum website, National Medal of Honor Museum website, Town of Mount Pleasant website, and mountpleasanthistorical.org.

Image credit: Architectural rendering, National Medal of Honor Museum website.