On Thursday, Sept. 22, Senator Bruce Anderson (R-Buffalo) attended the dedication ceremony for the Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration and awarded to United States armed forces members for valor in combat. There have been less than 3,500 Medals awarded to date, and 72 Minnesotans have been recognized with this honor. And now, after more than a decade of work by the Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial Committee, the recipients of this prestigious award have a designated memorial.

During the Memorial dedication, Medal of Honor recipients were commemorated with cannon volley and a fly over of World War II vintage aircraft. In attendance were current and former presidents of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society along with five Medal of Honor recipients from around the country.

“The Medal of Honor was created for individuals who epitomize six values – courage, sacrifice, patriotism, citizenship, integrity and commitment,” Anderson said. “The Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial is a steadfast reminder of how we should all strive to live out these principles. It was an immense honor to attend this historic event and pay homage to award recipients who went far beyond the call of duty while defending our freedoms.”

The Memorial, which was approved by the Minnesota Legislature in 2017 and championed by Anderson, is located on the Capitol Mall just outside the Department of Veterans Services Building. Before the new Memorial was built, a statue, known as the ‘Promise of Youth,’ existed on the Capitol grounds. This statue is now the center of the new Medal of Honor Memorial and serves as a “metaphor inspiring and educating our youth and public with character virtues and values that our recipients and veterans leave with us as their legacy.”

To learn more about the significance and history of the Minnesota Medal of Honor Memorial, please visit – minnesotamedalofhonormemorial.org.