The National Medal of Honor Museum  was a project that had been years in the making. A museum unlike any before, perfectly designed to symbolize the strength, resilience, and heart of its subject, and outfitted with the latest technology to immerse you emotionally in storytelling and patriotism. 

While many cities hoped to host such an honor, in spring 2025, years of hard work culminated in Arlington, Texas, with the grand opening of The National Medal of Honor Museum. Recently, Mike Caldwell, Director of Operations and Veteran Engagement, sat down with TLM to discuss the Museum’s journey to Arlington, what it’s been like to be part of the process, and how you can get involved.

What makes the Medal of Honor Museum so uniquely special?

The Medal of Honor Museum is uniquely special because it focuses on the life stories of the 3,528 American heroes who have earned our nation’s highest award for valor in combat. They are people just like us who, in a moment of time on the battlefield, courage met circumstance, and they accomplished the extraordinary. While the museum is about the Medal of Honor and its recipients, we built the museum for you. When you learn about the recipients, you’ll see yourself in a story we’re telling, and you will be inspired to also do more extraordinary things in your life.

As a veteran with a storied career, I’m sure it’s an honor to have been a part of the Museum from the very beginning. Can you tell us about your role at the Museum and what it’s been like to reach this moment?

It has been a true honor to be part of this team that built and opened the National Medal of Honor Museum. To be part of a mission that transformed a Little League Baseball field into the National Medal of Honor Museum was phenomenal. This is a lasting legacy that we hope will inspire all Americans to draw inspiration from the values of the Medal of Honor and strive to accomplish the extraordinary.

The museum is in the heart of Arlington’s entertainment district, within minutes of AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field. How did it find its home here in Texas?

There was a nationwide search to determine where the museum would be located. When the City of Arlington became involved in the search, the Board of Directors, and most importantly, the Medal of Honor Recipients on our Board, were convinced that Arlington, Texas, was the right place to build the museum. The reason: Patriotism. The overwhelming display of patriotism, genuine support, and commitment from the City of Arlington made Arlington the only choice for the home of the museum. Arlington is indeed the most patriotic city I’ve ever experienced.

The museum’s architecture is a marvel. Can you tell us about its design and what it represents?

We firmly believe the National Medal of Honor Museum will be recognized as one of the most iconic buildings in America. Our architect, Rafael Vinoly, was born in Uruguay and raised in Buenos Aires. He and his family relocated to the United States in 1978. He was always grateful for the opportunities he had in the United States and always wanted to do a patriotic project that expressed his gratitude for America. He had tears in his eyes when we informed him that we chose his company to design the museum. 

Rafael’s design for the museum is indeed a marvel, but it is wrought with meaning. The 40,000-square-foot exhibition deck is 200 feet by 200 feet. That space has more structural steel than Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. The exterior of the exhibition space is covered in steel cladding.

Rafael’s idea for his design came one day while he was in his model office in New York City. He was holding a 1’x1’ steel plate, which they used to weigh down the models of buildings they’re designing. While Rafael was holding the steel plate, he saw it as metaphoric for a Medal of Honor Recipient. His epiphany was that while steel is formed by fire, the Medal of Honor Recipient is forged by the fire of combat. And steel is heavy. That heaviness represents the burden the recipients faced during their military combat action, for which they earned the Medal of Honor.

The 40,000-square-foot exhibition deck is supported approximately 50 feet in the air by five concrete mega-columns. Those mega-columns represent the five military services that have been awarded the Medal of Honor. Our biggest regret about the accomplishment in building and opening the Medal of Honor Museum is that Rafael passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in his New York City office, and he didn’t get to be a part of the marvel he created.

Can you tell us about your previous roles in the Air Force and how those prepared you for this?

It was an honor to serve our nation for 24 years as a Public Affairs Officer in the United States Air Force. One of my rules of life and Public Affairs is that every job is a Public Relations job. I certainly applied those PR skills in my various roles in the museum. When you go to war, deploy to various hot-spots, or deal with significant issues on the Air Staff at the Pentagon, you gain grit and savvy not available serving anywhere else. I enjoyed every minute of my military service. Even when it was hard and things looked impossible, we all came together to find a way to accomplish the mission, ultimately safeguarding the country. I’ve applied those skills many times over the last 5 1/5 years. Helping our team build and open the National Medal of Honor Museum is the most significant accomplishment of my professional career. 

What’s next for the Museum?

Our purpose at the museum is that “We’re on a Mission to Inspire America.” To do that, we need to make it possible for anyone in America to feel the inspirational impact of the stories we share in the museum. We are working hard post-grand-opening to inform as many people as possible about why they should visit the museum and join our team as a museum member.

We’re also working hard through our National Medal of Honor Foundation Griffin Institute to broadcast the values of the Medal of Honor across the country: courage and sacrifice, commitment and integrity, citizenship, and patriotism. The Institute’s Center for Character Excellence inspires your children with the values inherent in the Medal, which will serve as a foundation for their thinking and, more importantly, their actions. The Center for Leadership in Action inspires, equips, and connects you with other leaders who have already discovered that the Medal’s values can be the driving force in making you a better leader at home, at work, in your community, and in our country.

The Center for the Elevation of Honor amplifies the values of the Medal of Honor by creating and facilitating thought-provoking, relevant, heart-thumping content that reaches everyone, everywhere. We’ll conduct impactful events that apply the Medal of Honor values as a base for solutions and answers to significant issues of the day. I strongly encourage you to learn more about the National Medal of Honor Museum Griffin Institute at our Museum website. Every day is Memorial Day at the National Medal of Honor Museum. We’re excited that we can honor our nation’s truest heroes for the first time at the Museum.

How can we help the Museum?

The common question I get at the speaking engagements I participate in, which allow me to represent the Museum, is “How can we help?” Colonel Caldwell takes that question seriously. I hope it’s asked with a true essence of service and commitment. Here’s how you can help.
First, we’d love you to join our team as members of the National Medal of Honor Museum. There are great benefits and special opportunities to participate. You can join by visiting our website. Secondly, I have a challenge for you. I challenge you to visit the museum within the next 90 days and discover yourself in the stories of the Medal of Honor Recipients. You’ll see why we built the Museum for you, and you’ll be inspired to do more extraordinary things in your life.

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Cover photo Cameron Pitts

 Martin Ramirez is a brisket-eating, Shiner-loving, road-tripping enthusiast of all things Texas. This Dallas-born writer / adventurer is ready to take his ‘78 El Camino to find the best in food, fun, and fitness throughout the Lone Star State.