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Medal of Honor exhibit
Comments 0As the grills fire up and the fallen and missing troops from all over West Texas are honored for Memorial Day, the Commemorative Air Force will unveil a new a memorial of its own for the state's Medal of Honor recipients.
The Texas Medal of Honor exhibit, the largest of its type in the state, will open inside the George H.W. and Barbara Bush Commemorative Center at 11:15 a.m. Monday with a dedication and recognition of eight Texans who received the military's top honor.
Monday will also feature a chance for donors to take a ride on one of three World War II-era planes or step inside some of the planes on display during Open Cockpit Day, CAF President Stephan Brown said.
"The airplanes they'll see are still flying ... they were from World War II and helped protect the freedoms that we enjoy today," Brown said.
Aside from the lunches and the plane rides, the Memorial Day exhibits are free to the public.
Each Memorial Day, eight more Medal of Honor recipients from Texas will be recognized at the memorial with new plaques and displays until all 84 are there.
"Their story will be on the plaques," Brown said. "The situation that resulted in them (being) rewarded the Congressional Medal of Honor; it will tell their whole story."
The Medal of Honor recipients that will be recognized this year are:
>> George H. O'Brien, Jr.
>> Roy Benavidez.
>> Clarence Sasser.
>> James L. Stone.
>> David H. McNerney.
>> George D. Keathley.
>> Marvin Young.
>> David E. Hayden.
Brown said three of the men are still alive.
As for the open cockpit day, several rare planes will be parked for children and others to sit inside. The three planes flying will include the SNJ-9, the PT-19 and the heavy bomber B-24, one of only two that are still operational.
Depending on the turnout, Brown said they hope to have the rides at least once a year.
CAF spokeswoman Jennifer Borlinghaus said the open cockpit days were suspended in 2007 after hosting them around every Easter.
"It's almost being brought back by demand," she said.
IF YOU GO
>> What: George H. W. and Barbara Bush Commemorative Center.
>> Opening: 11:15 a.m. Monday.
>> Where: 9600 Wright Drive, Midland.
>> Cost: Free admission. $10 for lunch. Plane rides for a donation of $200 to $450 depending on the plane.
>> Call: For a B-24A ride, call Terri Brown at 850-368-3918. For rides in the PT-19 or the SNJ-9 trainer planes, call Lance Sommers at 432-425-3539.
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