Medal of Honor Memorial (Indianapolis) facts for kids
Medal of Honor Memorial, May 2007
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| Coordinates | 39°46′9.59″N 86°10′7.77″W / 39.7693306°N 86.1688250°W |
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| Location | Indianapolis, Indiana, USA |
| Material | Indiana Limestone, steel, concrete |
| Beginning date | January 1999 |
| Opening date | May 28, 1999 |
| Dedicated to | Medal of Honor recipients |
The Medal of Honor Memorial is a special monument in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. It honors everyone who has received the Medal of Honor. This medal is the United States military's highest award for being incredibly brave. The memorial was first shown to the public on May 28, 1999. This was during the Memorial Day weekend.
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What the Memorial Looks Like
The Medal of Honor Memorial is located next to Military Park. It sits on the north bank of the Indiana Central Canal. The monument has 27 glass panels. These panels are set into strong concrete bases. You can also see Indiana Limestone in different shades of buff, gray, and pink.
The glass panels are arranged into 15 walls. Each wall represents a different war or conflict. These are conflicts where the Medal of Honor was given out. The names of the people who received the medal are carved into the glass. When the memorial was first opened, there were 3,436 names etched there.
The memorial also has a cool lighting system. It lights up certain panels as part of a 30-minute audio tour. This tour plays stories about the wars. It also shares accounts from living Medal of Honor recipients. Many of these stories were recorded by the medal recipients themselves.
How the Idea Started
The idea for the memorial came from John and Caroline Hodowal. John was the chairman of IPALCO, a company in Indianapolis. They read an article in The New York Times in June 1998. The article was about a meeting of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
This article inspired the Hodowals. They wanted to help create a memorial. It would honor the brave people who earned the Medal of Honor. The place they chose for the memorial is very historic. It's where Indianapolis had its first Independence Day celebration. Also, it was used as a military camp during the U.S. Civil War.
Building and Opening the Memorial
Work on the site began in November 1998. Construction of the memorial started in January 1999. On May 28, 1999, the monument was officially opened. This was the last Memorial Day of that millennium. A total of 96 living Medal of Honor recipients came to the unveiling and dedication.
Who Designed and Sponsored It
The monument was designed by landscape architects Eric Fulford and Ann Reed. They worked for a company called ROAMworks. The company IPALCO Enterprises helped pay for the monument.
Awards for the Memorial
The Medal of Honor Memorial received an award in 2001. It was a Merit Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects.
