RGV heroes among honorees in Arlington’s National Medal of Honor museum

By Ozzie Garza

The city of Arlington has added a new national treasure to its Entertainment District: The National Medal of Honor Museum. The museum, the first of its kind in the country, shares some of the stories of the more than 3,000 recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor in combat.

The museum opened to the public Tuesday, March 25, which is Medal of Honor Day. The date was chosen to commemorate the first Medal of Honor presentation to six Union soldiers on March 25, 1863.

Located on a five-acre parcel of land across the street from AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field, the 120,000-square- foot facility hovers 40 feet above ground and is supported by five concrete columns, each representing the five military branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Space Force is represented by a light cannon shinning from the top of the building.

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Sgt. William George Harrell of Mercedes (Courtesy photo)

Sgt. Jose M. Lopez of Brownsville (Courtesy photo)

Pvt. Pedro Cano of Edinburg (Courtesy photo)

Sgt. Alfredo “Freddy” Gonzalez of Edinburg (Courtesy photo)

The design concept evokes both the “burden” of those who have received the Medal of Honor and the inspirational character traits that are exemplified by its recipients. The name of each recipient are etched in the Ring of Valor, a circular space at the museum’s entrance.

Among the names of Medal of Honor recipients are four from the Rio Grande Valley. They are Sgt. William George Harrell of Mercedes, Sgt. Jose M. Lopez of Brownsville and Pvt. Pedro Cano and Sgt. Alfredo “Freddy” Gonzalez of Edinburg. Both Sgt. Lopez and Pvt. Cano were Mexican immigrants.

Gonzalez was the only one to receive the Medal of Honor posthumously, a year after he was killed in 1968 during the initial phase of Operation Hue City in South Vietnam.

The following year his good friend, high school classmate, Edinburg Bobcat teammate and fellow Marine J.J. Avila, who was attending Officer Candidate School (OCS) at the Marine Base in Quantico, Virgina, was directed to be at the White House on Oct. 31, 1969, to witness a special presentation. The directive came from the Commandant of U.S. Marines. Also invited was his OCS classmate Mike Reilly of Edinburg.

Not one to question an order from superiors, especially the highest ranking U.S. Marine, they simply went to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue as directed.

There, Avila saw a familiar face. It was Dolia Gonzalez, Freddy’s mother. She had requested for Avila to be there. Meanwhile, her boss at the Edinburg department store where she worked said he would allow her to travel to Washington on one condition: that she also invite his son Reilly, who was also attending OCS school in nearby Quantico, to come along.

It was a somber occasion and Avila was glad to be there to provide strength and comfort to his good friend’s mother, who had lost her only son.

Dolia Gonzalez, the 94-year-old mother of Edinburg’s most famous son Freddy Gonzalez, looks toward the Veterans Memorial Wall replica at Ebony Hills Golf course Thursday, April 20, 2023, in Edinburg. (Delcia Lopez | dlopez@themonitor.com)

Vice President Spiro Agnew presented Ms. Gonzalez Freddy’s Medal of Honor. The former standout athlete received the award “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as platoon commander.” It is the highest military combat award for valor and bravery.

Gonzalez’s legacy is not forgotten in the Valley: a veterans nursing home, an elementary school and a major thoroughfare bears his name. There is also a street at Camp Lejeune Military Base and a Navy Destroyer named after him.

On numerous occasions Avila has spoken to students at Gonzalez Elementary School informing students about Gonzalez life and the strong commitment and courage and patriotism he displayed. Avila was also present in Bathe, Maine, when the USS Gonzalez was christened in 1995.

Gonzalez’s Medal of Honor medal is housed at the Museum of South Texas History in Edinburg.

Former President George W. Bush, who presented nine Medals of Honor during his presidency, summed it best three years ago at the Museum groundbreaking when he said, “When you look at the Medal of Honor recipient, you are looking at someone who has demonstrated gallantry under impossible odds, you are looking at someone who has duty above self, you are looking at someone who understands the meaning of sacrifice in the most profound way, you are looking at a person of integrity, fortitude and patriotism, your are looking at honor.”

That was Freddy Gonzalez and his fellow Medal of Honor recipients.

There are currently 61 living Medal of Honor recipients. Recipients say they wear the Medal not for themselves but for all that they served alongside.

Of the more than 41 million Americans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, less that 1% (3,536) have received the Medal of Honor. More than 700 are immigrants

The Medal of Honor was first authorized by Congress and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1861. It is the highest military decoration in the country, exemplifying duty, honor, and service above and beyond the call of duty at great risk of their own lives.

A statue of Col. Neel Ernest Kearby is pictured outside the National Medal of Honor Musuem in Arlington. Kearby was a United States Army Air Forces colonel and P-47 Thunderbolt pilot in World War II who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in combat. (Courtesy photo)

The iconic museum is must see attraction that tell the stories of Medal of Honor recipients through engaging exhibits and virtual battlefield experience. It honors the inspiring lives and legacies of ordinary Americans who took the extraordinary action in the service to others. It is an education center.

“The museum aims to inspire patriotism and humanize the stories of these heroes, encouraging visitors to carry their values into their own lives,” said Chris Cassidy, museum president and CEO. “This place will commemorate and preserve the stories of selfless service and sacrifice and remain a source of inspiration for generations to come.”

In addition to stories the museum also shares artifacts including letters, uniforms and weapons. One of the highlights is a fully restored Huey helicopter.

“You don’t need a uniform, rank, title or position to be there for someone,” said Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter. “There are people in communities across the nation what are starving for inspiration, patriotism, leadership and courage.”

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony and speeches Tuesday, there were some spectacular fireworks that boomed over the city’s newest attraction shedding red, white and blue sparks to thousands gathered to see the grand finale.

Like many legends in the nearby Cowboys and Rangers stadiums excel on the field, the showcased servicemembers in the Medal of Honor Museum also excelled, on the battlefield.

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